WINIFRED'S  JEWELS. 


BY 

MARY    ATHERSTONE    BIRD. 


UNIV.  OF  CALIF.  LIBRARY.  LOS  ANGELEb 


PHILADELPHIA: 

H.    N.    McKINNEY    &    CO., 
725    SANSOM    STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1874,  by 

H.  N.  McKINNEY  &  CO., 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
FREDA  AND  FREDDIE 7 

CHAPTER  II. 
SCHOOL  LIFE 15 

CHAPTER  III. 
FREDDIE'S  PUNISHMENT 23 

CHAPTER  IV. 
CIRCUS  LIFE 37 

CHAPTER  V. 
GILBERT  BRACEBRIDGE 52 

CHAPTER  VI. 
LORD  TYTHERLEIGH 61 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  EARL'S  DISCOVERY 71 

3 


2125572 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
ELLEN  TREVANIAN'S  DEATH 85 

CHAPTER  IX. 
THE  MARRIAGE  CERTIFICATE 96 

CHAPTER  X. 
AN  UNWELCOME  VISITOR 102 

CHAPTER  XL 
FREDDIE  AGAIN  AT  SCHOOL 113 

CHAPTER  XII. 
OUT  IN  A  STORM 125 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
FREDDIE  DREAMS 135 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
CONFIDENCES 144 

CHAPTER  XV. 
BROUGHT  TO  BAY 157 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
AN  EXIT,  AND  AN  ENTRANCE 168 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
FREDDIE'S  SKELETON  IN  THE  CLOSET 174 


CONTENTS.  5 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
SUDDEN  MOVEMENTS 185 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
A  TERRIBLE  DISCOVERY 194 

CHAPTER  XX. 
LIFE  IN  THE  SOUTH 206 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
HORSE  DEALING 219 

« 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
A  TRAP  is  LAID  FOR  FREDDIE 228 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
FREDDIE'S  TWIN  BROTHER 234 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
A  Ku-KLUX  PLOT 241 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
A  NIGHT  ATTACK 252 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
FRIENDLY  ADVICE 263 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Ku-Ki.ux  LAW 271 


6  --.^       CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
THE  INDIAN  Bow 279 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
THE  JOURNEY 286 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
DISCOVERIES 292 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
EXPLANATIONS - 301 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
FREDA'S  Vow 308 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
FREDDIE'S  CONFESSION 314 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
THE  JEWEL  CASE  is  OPENED ; 321 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
GILBERT'S  JOURNEY 327 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
PANDORA'S  Box 334 


WINIFRED'S  JEWELS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

FREDA   AND    FREDDIE. 

ON  the  first  of  May,  1846,  two  children  were  born 
into  this  world.  They  were  both  girls ;  each  was 
the  only  child  of  her  young  parents ;  and  both  re- 
ceived the  rather  uncommon  given  name  of  Winifred. 

In  every  other  respect  their  destinies  were  as  dif- 
ferent as  they  well  could  be,  though  they  were  fated 
at  a  distant  period  to  meet  and  exercise  a  powerful 
influence  upon  each  other.  One  was  born  in  India, 
the  daughter  of  a  dashing  officer  of  high  family, 
though  but  moderate  fortune. 

The  father  of  the  other  child  was  a  lawyer's  clerk, 
living  in  a  small  house  in  a  London  suburb. 

The  little  Anglo-Indian,  whom  her  parents  called 
Freda,  was  a  lovely,  fairy-like  creature,  gifted  with 
that  pure  and  perfect,  yet  seemingly  fragile  beauty 
which  so  often  accompanies  high  birth. 

The  London  child  was  chiefly  remarkable  for  the 

7 


8  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

extreme  vigor  and  robustness  of  her  constitution,  and 
the  pranks  which  her  overflowing  vitality  led  her  to 
perform.  Such  a  tomboy  was  she,  that  her  father 
called  her  Freddie  in  joke,  until  the  name  stuck  to 
her  in  earnest. 

Having  introduced  my  two  heroines,  I  shall  leave 
Freda  to  grow  up  in  her  luxurious  Indian  home,  the 
almost  spoiled  pet  of  her  doting  parents  and  the  idol 
of  the  regiment,  while  I  follow  the  more  adventurous 
life  that  fell  to  the  lot  of  Freddie. 

The  first  event  that  had  a  marked  effect  upon  her 
life  was  the  occupation  of  the  adjoining  house  by  a 
family  which  was  connected  with  Astley's  Amphi- 
theatre. The  father  was  a  gymnast  and  acrobat ;  his 
wife  was  a  "  star  rider ; "  and  their  four  boys,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  three  years  older  than 
Freddie,  were  all  training  up  in  their  father's  pro- 
fession. 

With  these  boys  Freddie  quickly  formed  a  strong 
friendship ;  and  though  she  was  but  six  years  old,  she 
speedily  learned  from  them  to  scale  the  six-foot  wall 
which  divided  the  little  back  gardens  belonging  to 
the  respective  houses,  and  thenceforward  became  a 
constant  sharer  in  their  sports,  and  especially  in  their 
exercises,  which  she  looked  upon  as  the  most  de- 
lightful sports  of  all. 

Her  mother  having  ascertained  by  personal  obser- 
vation that  the  lads  were  well-behaved,  and  that 
their  language,  though  not  the  purest  grammatically, 
was  free  from  all  coarseness  or  vulgarity,  offered  no 
opposition  to  this  growing  intimacy,  for  she  had 


FREDA    AND    FREDDIE.  9 

often  felt  that  her  little  girl  was  too  much  secluded 
from  the  companionship  of  other  children. 

Thus  matters  went  on  for  three  years.  At  that 
period  Mr.  Wilson,  Freddie's  father,  rendered  a  very 
important  service  to  his  employer,  by  which  he  pre- 
vented his  being  swindled  out  of  a  sum  that  would 
have  left  him  a  beggar  in  his  old  age.  In  gratitude 
for  this  act,  Mr.  Mason  increased  the  salary  of  his 
faithful  clerk,  and  furthermore  urged  him  to  say  if 
there  was  anything  else  by  which  he  could  prove  thq 
esteem  in  which  he  held  him. 

"  There  is  one  thing,  sir,"  replied  Wilson,  with 
sparkling  eyes,  "that  I  should  regard  as  the  very 
greatest  favor ;  but  I  fear  it  would  be  too  much  to 
ask." 

"  I  would  refuse  you  nothing  unless  upon  very 
imperative  reasons,"  said  Mr.  Mason,  "  and  I  don't 
think  you  would  want  anything  unreasonable.  So 
tell  me  frankly  what  it  is." 

"W'cll,  sir,  then  it  is  just  this,"  said  the  clerk. 
"  Ever  since  my  little  girl  was  born  I  have  laid  by  a 
small  sum  every  year  to  insure  her  thirty  pounds  a 
year  from  the  date  of  my  death  till  she  is  twenty- one. 
This  was  to  make  sure  that  she  shall  have  the  means 
of  going  to  school  without  distressing  her  mother. 
Then  you  see,  sir,  my  wife  may  die  too,  and  in  that 
case,  what  would  become  of  our  poor  child  ?  I  don't 
know  whether  you  are  aware  of  it,  sir,"  added  Wil- 
son, "  but  my  wife  and  I  were  both  brought  up  in 
the  Foundling  Hospital,  and  we  have  neither  of  us 
a  relation  in  the  world  that  we  know  of.  And  it  is 


io  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

singular  that  we  have  no  intimate  friends  ;  so  there's 
not  one  person  I  could  safely  leave  to  manage 
matters  for  my  little  girl  if  we  should  be  taken  from 
her,  unless  I  might  make  bold  to  ask  you,  sir,  to  take 
charge  of  her  little  income,  and  send  her  to  a  good 
school." 

"  Draw  out  your  will,  my  dear  fellow,"  said  the 
lawyer,  with  a  good-natured  laugh,  "  and  appoint  me 
guardian  and  trustee  to  your  little  maiden.  It  will 
satisfy  you,  and  it  wont  cost  me  any  trouble.  You 
are  now  about  thirty,  are  you  not?" 

"  Thirty-three,  sir." 

"  Well,  a  strong  man  of  thirty-three  is  not  likely 
to  give  a  feeble  man  of  sixty  any  trouble  about  car- 
rying out  the  provisions  of  his  will.  I  wish  you  had 
asked  me  something  that  would  have  been  of  real 
benefit  to  you." 

"  I  think,  sir,  it  is  a  real  benefit  to  have  one's  mind 
quite  at  ease,"  returned  the  clerk,  with  an  air  of  so 
much  satisfaction  that  his  employer  could  not  gain- 
say his  assertion. 

Wilson  made  his  will  that  afternoon,  and  hurried 
home  to  tell  his  wife  the  gratifying  news  of  his  em- 
ployer's kindness.  Mr.  Mason  retired  to  his  com- 
fortable bachelor  chambers,  and  forgot  all  about  it. 

A  few  more  months  passed  away,  and  one  morn- 
ing Wilson  failed  to  appear  at  the  usual  hour.  Such 
an  occurrence  was  unprecedented,  and  everybody  in 
the  office  began  to  fear  he  must  have  met  with  some 
accident.  In  the  course  of  the  morning  a  short  note 
from  Mrs.  Wilson  informed  Mr.  Mason  that  her 


FREDA     AND     FREDDIE.  II 

husband  was  sick,  and  that  it  was  feared  his  malady 
was  small-pox.  She  added  that  she  had  sent  her 
little  daughter  to  an  acquaintance  at  Hampstead 
without  letting  her  see  her  father,  for  fear  of  infec- 
tion, and  gave  him  the  address. 

Mr.  Mason  saw  his  faithful  clerk  no  more.  His 
daily  inquiries  were  answered  with  reports  of  his 
progress  from  bad  to  worse,  ending  with  his  death. 
In  a  week  more  Mrs.  Wilson  followed  her  husband. 

Then  the  good  lawyer  faithfully  executed  his 
trust.  He  left  the  child  with  her  new  friends  till  the 
bitterness  of  her  grief  was  past;  then  sent  for  her  to 
his  office  in  order  to  make  her  acquaintance,  and 
took  her  himself  to  a  good  school,  forty  miles  from 
town,  where  the  kind,  motherly  proprietress  prom- 
ised to  take  the  entire  charge  of  her,  and  keep  her 
during  the  vacations  for  the  thirty  pounds  yearly, 
which  formed  her  sole  fortune. 

Five  happy  years  flew  by,  during  which  Freddie 
became  a  tall,  graceful  girl,  with  much  more  than 
the  usual  amount  of ''intellectual  training,  due  partly 
to  her  own  excellent  abilities  and  love  of  learning, 
and  partly  to  those  long  quiet  vacations  spent  almost 
wholly  in  the  society  of  the  refined  and  highly  cul- 
tured Mrs.  Tyler. 

An  event  then  occurred  which  once  more  effected 
an  entire  change  in  the  orphan's  life.  This  was  the 
death  of  her  second  mother,  Mrs.  Tyler.  The  school 
was  sold,  and  Freddie,  as  a  sort  of  fixture,  passed 
with  it  into  the  hands  of  the  purchaser. 

Mr.  Mason  was  suffering  under  a  severe  attack  of 


12  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

sickness  at  this  time,  and  could  do  no  more  than 
acquiesce  in  the  transfer.  When  he  got  better,  he 
wrote  to  his  ward  requesting  her  to  inform  him  if 
she  was  at  all  dissatisfied  with  the  change,  in  which 
case  he  would  remove  her  to  another  school.  But 
this  letter  never  reached  Freddie's  hands. 

Miss  Crabtree  had  her  own  reasons  for  suppres- 
sing it ;  for  the  high-spirited  girl,  accustomed  to  be 
ruled  only  by  kindness  and  reason,  had  more  than 
once  revolted  against  the  many  petty  rules  and  regu- 
lations that  had  been  introduced  under  the  new 
regime,  and  such  encouragement  as  Mr.  Mason's 
letter  afforded  would  probably  have  elicited  an  open 
expression  of  her  discontent. 

Without  some  strong  inducement,  it  was  very  im- 
probable that  Freddie  would  venture  to  make  any 
complaint  to  her  almost  unknown  guardian.  She 
had  never  seen  him  since  he  left  her  in  Mrs.  Tyler's 
care;  for,  being  a  bachelor  living  in  chambers  in  the 
Temple,  he  had  no  home  to  which  a  young  girl 
could  be  invited  during  the  holidays,  and  though  he 
often  intended  running  down  to  see  how  "  poor  Wil- 
son's little  child  "  got  on,  yet  Mrs.  Tyler's  accounts 
of  her  welfare  were  so  entirely  satisfactory,  that  he 
suffered  more  urgent  business  to  detain  him,  until 
he  fell  into  a  confirmed  habit  of  not  going  to  see  her. 

This  apparent  lack  of  interest,  and  the  formal 
stereotyped  message  which  always  accompanied  the 
quarterly  remittance,  that  "  he  hoped  she  was  a  -good 
child,  and  learnt  her  lessons  carefully,"  had  a  very 
repdling  effect  upon  Freddie,  and  caused  her  to 


FREDA     AND    FREDDIE.  13 

entertain  towards  her  guardian  a  sentiment  of  awe 
and  almost  of  dread,  which  his  real  kindness  little 
merited. 

Had  she  been  able  to  look  into  the  old  gentleman's 
thoughts  for  one  moment,  she  would  have  been 
much  amused,  and  freed  from  every  vestige  of  fear 
or  embarrassment  in  her  relations  with  him.  The 
fact  was  that  Mr.  Mason,  having  no  children  of  his 
own,  did  not  take  in  the  idea  that  the  little  girl  of 
nine  must,  in  the  course  of  six  years,  have  become 
almost  a  young  woman,  and  therefore  she  was  still, 
to  him,  only  "  poor  Wilson's  little  child ;  "  and  what 
could  a  little  child  care  for  a  visit  from  an  old  man 
like  himself?  From  this  delusion  resulted  the  formal 
quarterly  message,  bidding  her  be  a  good  girl ;  and 
when  he  wrote  to  her  direct,  after  Miss  Crabtree 
purchased  the  school,  he  took  great  pains  to  form 
every  letter  with  the  utmost  precision,  and  to  use  the 
simplest  language,  so  that  the  little  child  should  have 
no  difficulty  in  reading  and  understanding  what  he 
wrote. 

Though  Miss  Crabtree  suppressed  this  letter,  she 
took  care  that  Freddie  should  appear  to  answer  it. 

"  Miss  Wilson,"  she  said,  the  day  after  its  arrival, 
"  instead  of  writing  an  exercise  to-day,  I  desire  you 
to  write  a  letter  to  your  guardian,  and  tell  him  how 
happy  you  are,  and  how  well  you  are  progressing 
with  your  studies." 

"  Bnt  I  am  not  at  all  happy,  ma'am/'  replied  Fred- 
die ;  "  how  can  I  be  happy  so  soon  after  dear  Mrs. 
Tyler's  death  ?  " 


14  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  It  is  very  becoming  in*you  to  regret  the  loss  of 
your  kind  friend,"  said  Miss  Crabtree,  in  the  tone 
of  cut-and-dried  blandness  that  was  peculiar  to  her ; 
"  but  you  must  not  suffer  your  feelings  to  make  you 
negligent  of  your  duty  to  your  guardian.  You  can 
tell  him  that,  with  the  exception  of  your  grief  for  the 
loss  of  your  late  excellent  preceptress,  you  are  com- 
fortable and  happy,  and  have  nothing  to  desire. 
Write  as  I  tell  you,  my  love,  and  show  your  letter 
to  me.  I  should  be  sorry  if  Mr.  Mason  discovered 
an  error,  however  slight,  in  either  your  orthography 
or  composition." 

Freddie  did  as  she  was  bidden,  and  Mr.  Mason 
was  quite  satisfied.  Her  letter  caused  him  much 
amazement,  however,  and  he  exhibited  it  to  his  head 
clerk  as  a  most  wonderful  performance  for  a  child 
of  that  age. 

"  What  age,  sir  ?"  was  the  reply.  "  It  appears  to 
me  to  be  nothing  very  remarkable.  Wilson's  daugh- 
ter was  nine  years  old  when  he  died,  that's  six  years 
ago,  so  she  must  be  fifteen  now." 

"  Bless  my  soul !  She  must  be  fifteen  !  And  I 
have  always  thought  of  her  as  the  little  girl  I  took 
down  to  Mrs.  Tyler's.  It  is  quite  amazing !  I'll  go 
and  see  her  as  soon  as  I  am  better  in  health  and  less 
harassed  by  business." 

And  so,  once  more,  the  visit  that  might  have 
changed  the  whole  course  of  Freddie's  life,  was  put 
off  indefinitely. 


CHAPTER   II. 

SCHOOL    LIFE. 

UNDER  Miss  Crabtree's  stringent  rule,  the  girls 
were  deprived  of  many  little  indulgences  to  which 
they  had  been  accustomed  during  Mrs.  Tyler's  life. 
In  particular,  their  dietary  was  much  reduced,  and 
the  abundant  supply  of  fruit  which  the  large  garden 
afforded  was  sent  to  market  instead  of  furnishing 
their  table  with  pies,  and  the  most  wholesome  of  all 
food,  ripe  fruit. 

The  appetite  of  school  boys  is  proverbial;  but 
healthy  school  girls  will  compare  favorably  with 
their  brothers  in  this,  as  in  many  other  respects. 
The  girls  were  often  hungry,  and  furthermore,  they 
looked  upon  themselves  as  the  victims  of  tyranny 
and  oppression.  None  felt  this  more  keenly  than 
Freddie,  because  she  had  lived  the  longest  under 
more  genial  government;  and  she  became  the  ring- 
leader in  a  series  of  exploits  that  were  entirely  con- 
trary to  order  and  discipline. 

Many  were  the  surreptitious  feasts  of  fruit,  cake, 
or  pies,  held  during  play  hours,  or  in  the  large  dor- 
mitory after  the  vigilant  Crabtree  had  retired  to  rest ; 
and  Freddie  was  always  mistress  of  the  revels.  She 

15 


1 6  WINIFRED' S     JEWEL  S. 

it  was  who  coaxed  the  cook  to  smuggle  in  the  con- 
traband articles,  collected  the  subscriptions,  decided 
on  the  quality  of  the  treat,  and  •  presided  over  the 
distribution. 

It  was  in  the  spring  that  Miss  Crabtree  came  to 
the  school,  and  for  several  months  the  girls  carried 
on  their  pranks  without  discovery.  It  is  a  long  lane, 
however,  that  has  no  turning,  and  towards  the  end 
of  the  summer  her  suspicions  were,  by  some  means, 
aroused. 

One  night,  as  the  clock  struck  twelve,  an  awful 
apparition  might  have  been  seen  gliding  with  noise- 
less step  through  the  long  passage  that  led  to  the 
upper  dormitory,  which  was  occupied  by  twelve  of 
the  elder  girls,  Freddie  being  one  of  the  number. 
The  apparition  was  tall  and  straight  as  a  slat,  and 
with  about  as  much  beauty  of  outline.  It  was  draped 
from  head  to  foot  in  a  scanty  white  garment,  and 
carried  a  lighted  candle  in  its  hand.  Little  of  the 
face  was  visible  except  a  long,  sharp  nose,  and  a  pair 
of  small,  twinkling  eyes,  around  which  radiated  a 
dense  array  of  curl  papers,  with  their  twisted  ends 
standing  out  in  all  directions.  These  were  sur- 
rounded and  surmounted  by  a  night-cap,  with  many 
starched  and  fluted  frills,  and  an  immense  spreading 
crown,  which  gave  the  spectre's  head  the  appearance 
of  being  considerably  larger  than  any  other  part  of 
its  figure,  and  by  adding  several  inches  to  its  appa- 
rent .  height,  imparted  to  it  a  grotesque  and  some- 
what terrific  appearance.  This  was  Miss  Crabtree 
on  the  war  path. 


SCHOOL     LIFE.  17 

Within  the  dormitory  all  was  eagerness  and  active 
preparation.  Two  of  the  girls  held  lighted  candles, 
and  all  had  plates  and  spoons  in  readiness. 

Freddie  had  just  made  the  first  incision  into  a 
large  plum  pie.  None  of  your  little  shallow  plates, 
with  an  under  crust  that  absorbs  all  the  juice ;  but  a 
regular  English  pie,  made  in  a  deep  dish  capable  of 
holding  two  or  three  quarts  of  the  ripe  fruit,  and 
almost  overflowing  with  the  rich  crimson  fluid. 

At  this  moment  an  alarm  was  given :  "  Miss  Crab- 
tree  was  coming ! " 

Freddie  popped  the  pie  into  the  nearest  place  of 
concealment — an  open  bed — not  reflecting  on  the 
probable  consequences. 

The  occupant  of  this  bed  was  a  dull,  inert  girl  of 
German  descent,  by  name  Gertrude  Thudichum. 
She  was  generally  slow  and  heavy  in  her  movements  ; 
but  under  any  extraordinary  excitement  had  been 
known  to  perform  feats  of  awkward  activity  that 
amazed  her  schoolfellows. 

Freddie  had  no  sooner  deposited  the  corpus  delicti 
in  Miss  Thudichum's  bed,  and  taken  a  flying  leap 
into  her  own,  than  by  the  last  flash  of  the  rapidly 
extinguished  candles  she  saw  the  consequences  of 
her  act. 

By  one  of  her  extraordinary  efforts,  Miss  Thudi- 
chum leaped  backwards  into  her  bed,  and  went — 
plump — into  the  pie ! 

In  a  moment  all  was  still  as  the  tomb,  except  a 
smothered  gurgling  sound  from  Freddie,  who  was 
nearly  stifled  by  the  violent  efforts  she  made  to  sup- 


1 8  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

press  a  burst  of  laughter ;  and  when  the  grotesque 
apparition  already  described  glided  into  the  room, 
and  commenced  an  inspection  of-  the  different  beds, 
poor  Freddie's  risibility  amounted  almost  to  agony. 
Involuntarily  she  uttered  a  low,  tremulous  groan. 

The  sound  reached  Miss  Crabtree's  ears.  She 
hastened  to  the  spot  whence  it  proceeded,  and  as  she 
came  to  Miss  Thudichum's  bed,  what  a  sight  met 
her  view!  There,  upon  the  white  coverlet,  lay  a 
blood-stained  knife,  while  a  stream  of  crimson  fluid 
trickled  from  the  bed  and  formed  a  pool  upon  the 
floor! 

She  raised  a  series  of  such  unearthly  yells  that  all 
the  girls  started  up  in  their  beds,  eagerly  inquiring 
what  was  the  matter,  and  the  servants,  in  a  distant 
part  of  the  house,  were  roused  from  sleep,  and  rush- 
ing upon  the  scene,  added  their  cries  and  high-raised 
voices  to  the  confusion.  In  the  midst  of  all,  Fred- 
die's ringing  peals  of  laughter  formed  a  strange 
chorus  to  the  wailings  of  dismay. 

Miss  Thudichum,  meanwhile,  lay  with  closed  eyes 
and  immovable  features,  looking  as  calm  as  though 
she  were  really  sleeping  the  sleep  of  innocence,  or 
of  death. 

The  cook,  who  had  good  reasons  for  suspecting 
the  truth  of  the  matter,  took  up  the  knife,  smelledP 
it,  tasted  the  red  fluid  with  which  it  was  stained,  and 
observed : 

"  Law,  ma'am,  that  aint  blood  ;  that's  plum-juice." 

Still  Miss  Thudichum  stirred  not  a  muscle,  and 
all  the  girls,  except  Freddie,  suddenly  subsided  into 


SCHOOL    LIFE.  19 

their  beds,  and  slept  like  dormice.  As  for  Freddie, 
she  laughed  louder  than  ever. 

"Plum  juice!  "cried  Miss  Crabtree;  " plum  juice  ! 
Then  what  is  this  ?  "  pointing  to  the  pool  on  the 
floor. 

Investigation  proved  what  it  was.  Miss  Thudichum 
was  with  difficulty  roused  from  sleep,  and  sate  up 
rubbing  her  eyes  and  blinking  at  the  light  in  the 
most  natural  manner  possible. 

When  sharply  questioned  by  Miss  Crabtree  con- 
cerning her  complicity  in  the  crime  of  smuggling  a 
pie  into  the  dormitory,  she  looked  placidly  at  the 
woful  debris  of  the  feast,  acknowledged  that  it  seemed 
to  have  been  a  pie,  and  added  that  she  had  not  seen 
any  one  put  it  there,  and  did  not  know  who  had 
done  it,  but  supposed  some  one  must  have  done  it 
for  fun. 

"  Miss  Thudichum,"  said  the  school-mistress,  se- 
verely. "  I  greatly  fear  you  are  prevaricating.  How 
could  you  lie  there,  in  the  very  middle  of  that  pie, 
without  being  aware  of  it  ?  " 

"  I  felt  something  odd,"  replied  the  young  lady, 
with  an  air  of  the  utmost  simplicity.  "  But  how  could 
Isee  what  it  was  in  the  dark  ?  " 

Another  burst  of  laughter  drew  the  attention  of 
the  wrathful  principal  upon  the  delinquent  Freddie. 

"  You  evidently  know  all  about  this  disgraceful 
business,  Miss  Wilson.  Will  you  cease  your  un- 
seemly merriment,  and  tell  me  at  once,  and  without 
any  falsehoods,  what  this  all  means?" 

"  I'll    tell    you  all  about    myself — /  put   the  pie 


20  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

there,"  gasped  Freddie;  "and  Miss  Thudichum 
jumped  right  into  the  very  middle  of  it.  Ho ! 
ho!  ho!" 

"  Will  you  stop  this  giggling  ?  "  cried  Miss  Crab- 
tree,  sharply,  -and  the  more  sharply  as  she  saw  that 
the  cook  and  housemaid  had  great  difficulty  to  pre- 
serve their  gravity.  "  So  Miss  Thudichum  knew  it 
was  there,  did  she  ?  " 

"  Why,  no ;  of  course  not.  Would  she  have  gone 
into  the  very  middle  of  it,  if  she  had  known  it  was 
there  ?  She's  not  to  blame.  /  put  it  there,  and 
she— Ha !  ha !  ha  !' " 

And  again  Freddie  rolled  her  head  upon  her 
pillow,  and  laughed  till  it  seemed  she  could  laugh 
no  more. 

"  Compose  yourself,  Miss  Wilson.  I  insist  upon 
it,"  said  Miss  Crabtree,  with  increased  acerbity. 
"  And  teU  me,  on  your  peril,  who  else  was  concerned 
in  this  most  disgraceful  business  ?  " 

"  Miss  Crabtree,"  replied  Freddie,  with  a  success- 
ful effort  to  be  serious,  "  I  will  tell  you  everything 
that  concerns  myself,  but  not  one  word  that  can 
throw  the  blame  upon  any  one  else.  I  acknowledge 
that  I  had  that  pie ;  I  began  to  cut  it,  and  when  I 
heard  you  coming,  I  put  it  in  Miss  Thudichum's  bed, 
and  she — and  she — and  she—" 

Freddie  was  determined  not  to  weaken  the  force 
of  her  confession  by  unseasonable  merriment,  and 
finding  it  utterly  impossible  even  to  allude  to  Miss 
Thudichum's  disaster  with  a  serious  face,  she  gasped, 
and  stopped  short. 


SCHOOL     LIFE.  21 

"  You  may  think  yourself  very  determined,  Miss 
Wilson,  but  I  flatter  myself  that  I  can  make  you 
speak  the  truth,  notwithstanding  all  your  impudence 
and  obstinacy.  It  is  too  late  to  take  any  measures 
with  you  to-night,  but  you  may  prepare  yourself 
for  very  severe  treatment  to-morrow,  unless  you 
think  well  to  tell  me  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth." 

Miss  Crabtree  would  not  diminish  the  terror  of 
this  awful  threat  by  adding  another  word,  and  stalked 
in  silence  from  the  room. 

"  Oh,  doesn't  she  look  like  a  pair  of  tongs  out  on 
a  ramble  ?  "  exclaimed  the  irrepressible  Freddie,  as 
soon  as  the  door  closed  behind  the  spectre.  . 

"Oh,  for  shame,  Miss  Wilson!"  cried  the  cook, 
as  a  suppressed  giggle  ran  through  the  room.  "  You 
might  have  set  us  all  laughing  out  loud,  and  got  us 
all  into  trouble.  I'm  sure  /  must  have  laughed  out 
if  it  hadn't  been  for  grieving  over  what  will  be  done 
to  you  to-morrow." 

"  Shall  you  tell  about  us  ?  "  demanded  one  girl. 

"  Nothing  shall  make  me.     I  promise  you  that." 

"  But  suppose  she  should  whip  you  ?  "  suggested 
another. 

"  If  she  tries  that  once,  she  wont  do  it  a  second 
time,"  replied  Freddie,  with  a  smile  of  conscious 
superiority.  "  I'll  never  submit  to  be  flogged." 

"  I  wonder  whether  she  means  to  punish  us  all," 
said  one,  who  was  not  remarkable  for  courage. 

"  Not  she,"  replied  Freddie  ;  "  she'll  be  glad  enough 
to  let  you  all  off  with  a  lecture,  because  you  all  have 


22  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

influential  friends.  But  as  somebody  ought  to  be 
punished  for  the  sake  of  discipline,  she'll  make  a 
scapegoat  of  me,  because  I  have  no  friends." 

"  Oh,  what  a  shame ! "  cried  a  chorus  of  young 
voices. 

"  Don't  fret  about  it,  girls,"  responded  the  indomi- 
table Freddie.  "  She  dare  not  kill  me,  and  she  shall 
not  beat  me ;  and  she  can't  deprive  me  of  the  fun  of 
seeing  little  Thud  going  with  such  a  thud  into  that 
pie.  Oh  !  it's  fifty  times  better  than  having  eaten  the 
pie.  That  would  have  been  soon  forgotten,  but  the. 
recollection  of  Thuddy's  jump  will  be  a  Joy  forever. 
How  did  you  do  it,  Thuddy?  And  what  a  little 
hypocrite  you  were  to  sham  sleep  so  cleverly ! " 

''  I  didn't  know  what  else  to  do,"  said  quiet  little 
Miss  Thudichum,  nestling  down  into  her  bed,  which 
the  two  women  had  made  up  with  clean  sheets  while 
this  conversation  was  going  on ;  "  and  it  was  about 
the  best  I  could  have  done,  after  all." 

"  Good  night,  young  ladies,  and  mind  you  go  to 
sleep  quickly ;  there's  dears,"  said  the  cook,  as  she 
retreated. 

They  all  followed  her  parting  injunction;  but 
Freddie's  dreams  were  frequently  disturbed  by 
visions  of  Miss  Thudichum  taking  impracticable 
leaps  into  all  sorts  of  utterly  impossible  places. 


CHAPTER    III. 
FREDDIE'S   PUNISHMENT. 

A  CONSCIOUSNESS  of  power  always  imparts  courage 
to  its  possessor.  The  martyr  knows  he  can  support 
torture  for .  righteousness'  sake,  and  smiles  upon  the 
inventions  of  his  persecutors.  Even  the  conscious- 
ness of  possessing  unusual  physical  strength  inspires 
an  amount  of  courage  beyond  what  persons  of  weaker 
muscle  possess.  Thus  it  was  that  Freddie  was  en- 
abled to  treat  all  Miss  Crabtree's  threats  of  vengeance 
and  punishment  with  silent  contempt.  Her  early 
training  with  her  young  acrobatic  playmates  had 
developed  in  her  a  degree  of  muscular  power  which 
was  perfectly  marvellous,  and  as  she  increased  in 
years  and  stature,  so  did  her  strength  of  body.  She 
made  no  boast  of  it,  for  the  fact  was  that  the  poor 
child  was  ashamed  of  being  so  unfeminine,  and  con- 
cealed her  natural  gift  with  as  much  solicitude  as 
though  it  had  been  a  crime.  Now,  for  the  first  time 
in  her  life,  she  rejoiced  in  her  abounding  vigor  and 
activity,  as  she  thought  of  the  ease  with  which  she 
would  overpower  her  tyrannical  school-mistress, 
should  she  venture  to  threaten  her  with  a  whip. 

She  stretched  her  tall  lithe  figure,  and  clenched 

23 


24  WINIFRED' S     JEWELS. 

her  small  firm  hands,  and  felt  that  she  was  mistress 
of  the  situation. 

As  soon  as  prayers  were  over,  on  the  morning 
after  the  adventure  of  the  pie,  Miss  Crabtree  sol- 
emnly summoned  Freddie  to  her  desk. 

"  Miss  Wilson,"  she  began,  with  the  most  awe- 
inspiring  air  and  voice  that  she  could  command; 
"  are  you  prepared  to  divulge  the  names  of  your 
accomplices  in  the  disgraceful  proceedings  of  last 
night  ?  " 

"  No,  ma'am,"  replied  Freddie,  firmly,  yet  mod- 
estly. "  I  will  answer  every  question  you  choose  to 
ask  about  myself;  but"!  will  say  nothing  about  any 
other  person." 

"  How  did  you  come  by  that  pie  ?  " 

"  I  came  by  it  honestly.  It  was  paid  for,  and  the 
money  passed  through  my  hands.  I  can  say  noth- 
ing more  about  it." 

"  Did  my  cook  make  it  for  you  ?  " 

"  That  is  a  question  which  I  cannot  answer,  Miss 
Crabtree.  If  I  were  to  tell  you  the  name  of  every 
person  who  did  not  make  it,  you  would  easily  dis- 
cover who  did  make  it ;  and  that  I  intend  to  conceal." 

"  Am  I  to  understand  that  you  are  determined  to 
make  no  further  disclosures  ?  "  asked  Miss  Crabtree, 
turning  white  with  rage. 

"  Yes,  ma'am,"  replied  Freddie,  respectfully,  "  un- 
less they  relate  to  myself." 

"  Then  come  with  me  to  my  parlor.  I  will  not 
disgrace  you  publicly  before  your  companions." 

All  the  girls  turned  frightened  glances  at  each 


FREDDIE'S    PUNISHMENT.  25 

other,  and  tears  started  in  many  young  eyes,  as  Miss 
Crabtree  stalked  majestically  out  of  the  room,  fol- 
lowed without  any  show  of  reluctance  by  Freddie, 
who  cast  back  on  them  as  she  went  a  glance  as  ex- 
pressive of  contempt  for  all  that  might  be  in  store 
for  her,  as  she  dared  venture  on  in  presence  of  the 
other  teachers. 

Arrived  in  her  private  parlor,  Miss  Crabtree  took 
in  her  hand  a  long  and  supple  switch,  prepared  for 
the  occasion. 

"  Once  more,  I  give  you  the  option,  Miss  Wilson," 
she  said,  in  a  voice  that  shook  with  anger,  "  of  giving 
up  the  names  of  your  accomplices,  or  of  baring  your 
back  to  -the  waist,  and  receiving  the  chastisement  that 
your  obstinacy  merits." 

"  Miss  Crabtree,"  said  Freddie,  looking  her  full  in 
the  face,  and  speaking  in  a  quiet  and  respectful  tone, 
"  I  will  neither  betray  my  friends,  nor  suffer  myself 
to  be  flogged." 

"  Take  off  your  dress  this  moment ! "  screamed 
the  vindictive  woman,  losing  all  self-command,  and 
shaking  the  switch  close  to  the  girl's  face.  . 

Freddie  never  flinched,  but  she  took  the  switch 
from  Miss  Crabtree's  hand  without  the  slightest  ef- 
fort, twisted  it  into  a  small  compass  (it  was  too 
tough  to  break),  and  put  it  into  the  fire. 

Livid  with  passion,  and  oblivious  of  all  decency 
or  self-respect,  the  school-mistress  flew  upon  her 
pupil  and  tried  to  tear  her  face  and  hair  with  her 
long  nails.  Freddie  easily  kept  her  off  with  one 
hand,  while  she  completed  the  destruction  of  the 

* 


26  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

switch.  Then  she  imprisoned  both  the  virago's 
hands,  and  held  them  quietly,  till  she  ceased  her  vo- 
ciferations, and  the  young  girl  had  a  chance  of 
being  heard. 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  treat  you  with  any  disrespect, 
Miss  Crabtree,"  she  said,  "  but  you  must  not  scratch 
my  face.  If  you  will  promise  not  to  touch  me,  I 
will  let  you  go." 

"  Let  me  go,"  she  gasped  out.  "  I'll  not  touch  you 
again,  I  promise  you.  Let  me  go — you  frighten 
me.  You  must  be  a  man  in  disguise  !  " 

"  Oh,  no !  I  am  only  a  little  stronger  than  most 
girls,  and  you  are  very  weak,  ma'am.  Now  tell  me 
what  punishment  you  mean  to  impose  upon  me,  and 
I  will  submit  to  it  quietly,  so  long  as  it  is  not  whip- 
ping." 

Miss  Crabtree,  though  the  strange  girl  released 
her  hand,s,  felt  herself  wholly  subdued ;  yet  roused 
herself  to  exert  an  appearance  of  authority. 

"  You  are  to  be  locked  in  the  lumber  attic  till  you 
consent  to  speak  the  truth,"  she  said,  though  with 
an  inward  dread  of  being  again  successfully  set  at 
defiance.  But  Freddie  only  bowed  her  grace- 
ful head,  and  asked  humbly  if  she  might  be 
allowed  to  continue  her  studies  while  she  remained 
there. 

"All  that  you  can,  conveniently,"  replied  Miss 
Crabtree,  glad  to  make  any  concessions  that  might 
lure  the  wild  creature  into  her  prison.  "  Your  music 
lessons  you  must  necessarily  forego ;  but  I  trust  you 
will  come  to  your  senses  in  a  day  or  two,  so  the  loss 


FREDDIE'S    PUNISHMENT.  27 

will  not  be  great  Your  books  shall  be  sent  up  to 
you." 

Freddie  courtseyed  in  the  formal  fashion  which 
Miss  Crabtree's  notions  of  etiquette  demanded  of 
her  scholars  on  entering  or  quitting  her  presence, 
and  bounded  up  stairs  to  her  place  of  imprisonment 
as  lightly  as  a  midshipman  under  sentence  would 
run  up  to  the  mast-head. 

"  Well !  "  she  said  to  herself,  as  she  surveyed  the 
.premises,  "  there  will  be  some  credit  in  'being  jolly 
under  these  circumstances,'  but  with  Mark  T^apley's 
example  before  me,  I  think  I  shall  manage  it." 

It  was  a  long  room  with  a  ceiling  sloping  on  each 
side  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  floor ;  in  the  centre 
it  was  lofty,  and  three  large  beams  crossed  it,  mid- 
way between  the  floor  and  the  apex  of  the  roof. 
Upon  these  the  young  prisoner  looked  with  much 
complacency,  as  furnishing  the  foundation  for  a  gym- 
nasium. 

"  I'll  not  die  or  grow  stupid  for  want  of  exercise," 
she  said,  half  aloud ;  "  in  fact,  I  think  I  shall  rather 
enjoy  my  captivity,  if  she  don't  keep  me  in  too  long." 

Forthwith  she  set  to  work  to  make  her  habitation 
as  comfortable  as  possible,  by  arranging  the  miscel- 
laneous articles  of  furniture  that  were  piled  in  dis- 
order on  every  side,  and  especially  by  opening  the 
two  dormer  windows. 

While  she  was  thus  occupied,  Miss  Crabtree  made 
her  appearance,  followed  by  the  housemaid,  who 
brought  a  slice  of  bread  and  a  cup  of  milk  and 
water  for  the  prisoner's  breakfast.  They  retired,  and 


28  WINIfRE&S    JEWELS. 

Freddie  laughed  on  hearing  the  key  turned  in  the 
lock.  She  ate  her  breakfast  contentedly,  and  again 
set  to  work  to  tidy  up  her  prison  room. 

A  few  hours  later  Miss  Crabtree  and  her  satellite 
returned. 

"  Are  you  prepared  to  tell  me  the  names  of  your 
accomplices,  Miss  Wilson  ?  "  demanded  the  school- 
mistress, with  less  austerity  than  she  had  before  used 
in  addressing  her  recalcitrant  pupil. 

"  I  should  be  very  glad  to  oblige  you,  Miss  Crab- 
tree,"  replie'd  Freddie,  with  a  coolness  that  Mr.  Mid- 
shipman Easy  might  have  envied,  "  but  I  cannot  do 
so.  It  would  be  quite  contrary  to  my  ideas  of 
honor." 

"  Stuff  and  nonsense ! "  said  Miss  Crabtree. 
"  Make  up  Miss  Wilson's  bed,  Jane.  You  are  a  wit- 
ness that  it  is  entirely  her  own  fault  and  her  own 
choice  that  she  remains  here." 

Freddie  helped  to  make  her  bed  with  most  pro- 
voking alacrity,  and  when  Jane  began  to  set  the 
place  in  order,  she  begged  her  not  to  trouble  herself, 
as  it  would  afford  her  occupation  and  amusement  to 
do  it  herself;  but  she  requested  to  have  the  requisite 
household  utensils  for  giving  it  a  good  cleaning. 

Jane  looked  for  orders  to  her  mistress. 

"  Let  her  have  them,"  responded  that  lady,  as  she 
quitted  the  room  with  an  overpowering  sense  of  her 
utter  inability  to  cope  with  the  indomitable  spirit  she 
had  undertaken  to  subdue. 

Freddie's  imprisonment  lasted  for  two  weeks ; 
during  which  time  she  had  practised  gymnastics  to 


FREDDIE'S    PUNISPfMENT.  29 

such  good  purpose,  that  her  health  was  unimpaired, 
while  her  remarkable  strength  was  greatly  increased. 

Her  release  was  the  result  of  no  humiliating  sub- 
mission on  her  part,  but  was  effected  by  a  manoeuvre 
of  Miss  Crabtree's  own  contriving.  Finding  that 
Freddie's  resolution  was  invincible,  she  began  to  be 
fearful  of  the  consequences,  if  it  should  become  pub- 
licly known  that  she  had  kept  one  of  her  pupils  so 
long  under  confinement.  She,  therefore,  by  a  little 
skilful  insinuation  gave  one  of  the  teachers  to  under- 
stand, that  if  all  the  girls  were  to  present  to  her  a  peti- 
tion expressive  of  their  own  repentance  for  any  share 
they  might  have  had  in  Freddie's  offence,  and  pray- 
ing for  their  companion's  pardon,  she  might  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  give  it  a  favorable  consideration. 
The  teacher  no  sooner  gave  a  hint  to  one  of  the 
elder  girls  that  she  thought  such  a  petition  would 
obtain  Freddie's  pardon,  than  the  idea  flew  like 
lightning  through  the  school. 

The  important  document  was  drawn  up,  signed, 
and  presented  in  due  form.  Miss  Crabtree  pretended 
to  require  time  to  ponder  well  before  granting  their 
wishes,  and  after  keeping  them  in  suspense  for  about 
an  hour,  she  caused  Freddie  to  be  conducted  to  the 
school-room,  where  she  delivered  a  long  lecture  to 
them  in  a  body,  without  mentioning  Freddie  in  par- 
ticular, pardoned  them  en  masse,  and  swept  out  of 
the  room  with  an  assumption  of  dignified  superiority 
that  was  exactly  in  inverse  proportion  to  her  con- 
sciousness of  having  sneaked  out  of  a  ver>^  degrad- 
ing predicament. 


3°  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

From  this  time  Freddie's  life  was  embittered  by 
every  petty  annoyance  that  a  small  and  malignant 
nature  could  invent.  * 

Miss  Crabtree  did  not  venture  on  any  open  act  of 
oppression ;  but  she  had  the  power  of  making  the 
poor  girl  feel  that  she  was  always  under  a  cloud  of 
suspicion.  Freddie  often  felt  uncomfortable  and 
unhappy;  and  on  one  occasion  this  feeling  urged 
her  to  write  to  her  guardian,  and  ask  him  if  he 
would  remove  her  to  another  school.  She  received 
no  answer,  for  the  excellent  reason  that  her  letter 
never  found  its  way  to  the  post-office,  but  was  quietly 
consigned  to  Miss  Crabtree's  fire. 

Miss  Crabtree's  malice  went  so  far  as  even  to  en- 
deavor, by  underhand  means,  to  prevent  Freddie's  ac- 
companying the  rest  of  the  girls  to  witness  the  per- 
formances at  a  travelling  circus.  Her  wiles,  however, 
were  overthrown,  for  this  visit  was  a  "  breaking-up  " 
treat  given  by  the  wealthy  parents  of  one  of  her 
pupils,  who  would  take  no  excuses  for  the  absence 
of  even  one  of  the  number. 

This  performance  was  a  source  of  intense  delight 
to  Freddie,  for  it  brought  back  vividly  to  her  recol- 
lection the  merry  times  she  had  spent  in  attempting 
such  feats  with  her  young  neighbors,  which  her  grief 
for  her  parents'  death,  and  the  subsequent  quiet, 
studious  life  of  the  school,  had  almost  obliterated 
from  her  memory.  She  almost  longed  for  a  second 
period  of  imprisonment,  that  she  might  try  to  imi- 
tate sorge  of  the  daring  achievements  of  the  arena. 
She  consoled  herself  with  the  thought  that  the 


FREDDIE'S    PUNISHMENT.  31 

* 

Christmas  vacation  was  close  at  hand,  when,  if  she 
was  not  invited  to  accompany  one  of  the  girls  to  her 
home,  which  had  sometimes  happened,  she  would 
steal  up  into  the  attic  when  the  Crabtree  was  out  of 
the  way,  and  practise  to  her  heart's  content. 

But  Miss  Crabtree  had  other  intentions  respecting 
the  disposal  of  her  time,  which  would  materially  in- 
terfere with  these  designs. 

She  declined  an  invitation  for  Freddie  to  spend  the 
holidays  with  Miss  Thudichum's  family,  but  kept  her 
ulterior  intentions  in  the  dark  till  all  the  girls  were 
gone  to  their  homes.  The  next  day  the  housemaid 
left,  and  the  cook  told  Freddie  that  she  too  was  going 
by  the  end  of  the  week.  That  evening  Miss  Crab- 
tree  summoned  Freddie  to  her  parlor. 

"  Close  the  door,  Miss  Wilson,  and  sit  down ;  I 
wish  to  have  a  little  conversation  with  you,"  began 
the  schoolmistress,  in  a  dry,  business-like  tone. 
"  Have  you  any  idea  what  arrangement  was  made 
between  Mr.  Mason  and  Mrs.  Tyler  respecting  the 
expense  of  keeping  you  during  the  vacations  ?  " 

"  I  believe,  ma'am,  it  was  understood  that  I  was  to 
remain  here  all  the  time,  and  that  Mrs.  Tyler  con- 
sidered what  Mr.  Mason  pays  for  me  was  to  include 
everything." 

"  It  is  only  thirty  pounds  a  year,"  said  Miss  Crab- 
tree  ;  "  and  it  was  barely  sufficient  when  you  were  a 
little  child.  Now  that  you  are  older,  and,  of  course, 
eat  more,  and  require  more  material  for  your  clothes, 
it  is  not  by  any  means  enough,  even  without  the  ex- 
pense of  keeping  you  through  the  holidays.'' 


32  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"Why  did  you  not  let  me  go  to  Mrs.  Thudi- 
chum's  ?  "  exclaimed  Freddie,  half  reproachfully. 

"  I  had  my  reasons,"  replied  Miss  Crabtree,  biting 
her  thin  lips.  "  It  is  a  very  unfortunate  thing  for  a 
young  girl  to  commence  life  by  being  dependent 
upon  charity,  and  I  had  reason  to  know  that  Mrs. 
Thudichum  invited  you  merely  out  of  compassion." 

Freddie's  brow  flushed,  and  she  looked  what  she 
felt — deeply  mortified.  But  she  said  nothing. 

"  Now,  I  have  in  my  possession,"  continued  Miss 
Crabtree,  "  the  letters  which  Mr.  Mason  wrote  to 
Mrs.  Tyler  upon  the  subject  at  the  time  you  were 
placed  here,  and  I  will  read  to  you  what  he  says." 
She  took  a  letter  from  the  table  and  read : 

"  'As  the  sum,  which  is  all  that  I  am  empowered  to 
offer  for  the  young  lady's  board  and  education  (in- 
cluding her  clothing  and  her  maintenance  during  the 
holidays^  is  very  moderate,  you  will  be  perfectly 
justified  in  doing  as  you  suggest,  and  making  her 
useful  in  the  school  as  soon  as  she  is  sufficiently  ad- 
vanced for  her  services  to  be  of  any  value  to  you.' 

"  I  require  you  to  say,  Miss  Wilson,  whether  you 
have  hitherto  been  of  any  service  to  me." 

"  Only  in  teaching  the  junior  class,  ma'am,"  fal- 
tered Freddie. 

"A  mere  trifle,  not  worth  naming,"  said  Miss  Crab- 
tree,  superciliously,  "  and  of  more  advantage  to  your- 
self than  to  me.  But  there  is  now  an  opportunity 
for  you  to  make  yourself  really  useful,  and  that  at  a 
time  when  you  are  not  engaged  in  studies  of  any 
kind.  It  is  very  desirable  that  every  young  woman 


FREDDIE'S    PUNISHMENT.  33 

should  be  acquainted  with  household  management 
and  work  in  all  its  branches,  and  I  mean  to  employ 
you  in  such  light  work  as  will  be  required  while 
there  are  only  two  in  the  family,  until  such  time  as  I 
can  replace  my  cook  and  housemaid,  who  are  leav- 
ing me." 

"  Will  you  not  first  write  to  mv^guardian,  ma'am, 
and  ask  if  he  would  approve  of  my  being  employed 
in  menial  work  ?  "  asked  Freddie,  almost  choking. 

"  This  letter  is  quite  sufficient  authority,"  repliecT 
Miss  Crabtree. 

"  But  he  says  there  that  I  am  to  be  made  useful 
in  the  school,"  persisted  Freddie. 

"And,  I  take  it,  this  is  the  school,  Miss,"  retorted 
the  principal,  tartly.  "  Mr.  Mason  is  in  very  bad 
health,  and  is  now  on  the  continent  travelling,  so  any 
application  to  him  would  be  too  late.  I  give  you 
the  option  of  earning  your  bread  honestly ;  but  if 
you  refuse  my  orders,  I  shall  dismiss  you  from  the 
school.  I  am  not  bound  to  keep  you ;  and  where 
will  you  go,  I  should  like  to  know  ?  Where  can  you 
go  ?  Unless,  indeed,  you  can  stoop  to  going  to  Mrs. 
Thudichum's,  or  elsewhere,  as  a  beggar — a  suppliant 
for  their  charity  !  " 

"  I  will  not  do  that,  ma'am,"  replied  the  girl,  with 
great  humility.  "  I  will  ask  cook  to  teach  me  as 
much  as  I  can  learn  about  cookery  before  she  goes, 
and  I  will  do  the  best  I  can." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  so,"  said  Miss  Crab- 
tree.    "  Then  from  to-morrow  morning  you  will  begin 
to  keep  the  house  in  good  order.     It  will  not  hurt 
3 


34  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

you.  I  am  sure  you  are  strong  enough.  You  may 
now  retire  to  bed.  Good  night." 

"  Good  night,  ma'am,"  said  Freddie,  as  she  with- 
drew,  apparently  quite  subdued. 

"  I  have  broken  her  spirit !  "  thought  Miss  Crab- 
tree,  with  inward  triumph.  "  I  have  crushed  out  all 
her  pride !  And  I  will  trample  on  her  more  as  I  go 
on.  How  I  hate  that  girl ! " 

"  The  best  I  can,"  whispered  Freddie,  as  she  as- 
cended the  stairs.  "  Yes,  I  must  do  the  best  I  can  ; 
and  I  think  that  will  be  the  best.  I  can't  stay  here, 
anyhow,  and  I  wont  go  a-begging." 

What  this  best  thing  was  that  had  come  into  her 
mind  like  an  inspiration,  and  prompted  her  apparent 
submission  to  Miss  Crabtree's  tyrannical  orders,  came 
to  light  in  due  course. 

Meanwhile  she  performed  her  new  work  with 
cheerfulness  and  alacrity,  though  she  was  more 
thoughtful  than  usual.  She  took  regular  instructions 
in  cooking,  and  promised  to  become  a  first-rate  maid 
of  all  work. 

Miss  Crabtree  was  completely  thrown  ofF  her 
guard,  and  ceased  to  watch  over  her  intercourse  with 
the  cook  as  jealously  as  she  had  done  at  first. 

"  Cook,"  said  Freddie,  the  evening  before  that 
functionary's  departure,  "will  you  do  me  a  great 
kindness  ?  " 

"  Why,  Miss  Wilson,  darling,  don't  you  know  I'll 
do  anything  in  this  world  for  you  ?  Haven't  I  lived 
in  this  very  house  with  you  ever  since  you  was 
brought  here  ?  And  didn't  we  both  love  the  dear 


FREDDIE'S    PUNISHMENT.  35 

angel  that's  gone  to  a  better  world,  and  that  was  so 
kind  to  us  while  she  was  mistress  here  ?  And  don't 
I  see  how  you  are  put  upon  by  this  old  crab-apple  ? 
As  \iyou  was  made  to  do  hard  work  like  a  servant." 

"  What  I  have  done  wont  kill  me,"  replied  Freddie, 
cheerfully.  "  Now,  you  must  promise  me,  first  of  all, 
never  to  say  one  word  to  anybody  of  what  I  am  going 
to  ask  you  to  do  for  me." 

"  My  blessed  child,  you  may  reckon  upon  me.  I 
promise  you,  solemnly." 

"  Then  I  want  you  to  give  me  an  old  dress  and 
ten  shillings  for  my  new  merino,  and  an  old  bonnet 
for  my  new  hat,  and  your  red  tartan  shawl  for  my 
gray  one.  Don't  ask  me  any  questions,  but  just  say 
yes  or  no.  But  remember,  if  you  say  yes,  it  will  save 
me  from — from — well  I  may  as  well  say  it  right  out 
— it  may  save  me  from  drowning  myself." 

There  was  a  depth  of  emotion  in  the  poor  girl's 
voice  and  manner  that  carried  conviction  to  the  wo- 
man's kind  soul. 

"I'll  do  it,"  she  said,  hurriedly;  "yes,  I'll  do  it. 
But  what  if  Miss  Crabtree  should  have  me  taken  up 
for  stealing  ?  " 

"Never  fear,"  said  Freddie,  confidently;  "she'll 
not  do  that,  for  she  will  never  find  it  out.  Oh, 
thank  you,  dear  Susan !  Thank  you  a  thousand 
times  !  Bring  the  things  to  my  room  the  first  thing 
in  the  morning,  and  I'll  have  the  others  ready  for 
you." 

On  the  night  of  the  second  day  from  this,  Freddie, 
dressed  in  the  clothes  thus  obtained,  and  with  a  bun- 


36  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

die  on  her  back,  quietly  let  herself  out  by  a  side  door, 
and  quitted  forever  the  house  that  had  been  her 
home  for  so  many  years. 

Miss  Crabtree  "  moved  heaven  and  earth,"  to  use 
her  own  expression,  in  her  efforts  to  trace  and  re- 
cover the  fugitive ;  but  all  in  vain.  Freddie  had  dis- 
appeared as  completely  as  though  the  earth  had 
opened  and  swallowed  her  in  its  depths. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

CIRCUS    LIFE. 

IN  the  deserted  tap-room  of  a  small  inn,  situated 
in  the  outskirts  of  a  manufacturing  town,  about 
ninety  miles  distant  from  Miss  Crabtree's  seminary, 
sat  a  man,  of  some  sixty  years  of  age,  sipping  a  glass 
of  gin  and  water,  and  gazing  gloomily  into  the  em- 
bers of  the  expiring  fire. 

He  was  somewhat  corpulent,  and  not  over  clean 
in  his  general  appearance.  His  clothes  were  shabby, 
his  shirt  front  was  soiled  and  rumpled,  his  hair  was 
matted  and  unkempt,  and  his  bloated  features  and 
blood-shot,  lack-lustre  eyes  would  have  told  a  keen 
observer  that  he  was  too  much  addicted  to  the  use 
of  the  baneful  stimulant  he  was  imbibing. 

A  showy  posting  bill  that  hung  on  the  smoky 
wall  announced  the  performances  of  Powell's  Grand 
Circus,  and  some  hastily  scribbled  pencil  memoranda 
that  lay  at  his  elbow  on  the  table  referred  to  the  re- 
ceipts for  the  evening's  performance,  concluded  about 
an  hour  ago.  This  was,  in  fact,  no  other  than  Mr. 
Powell  himself,  the  proprietor  and  manager  of  the 
circus. 

"  Muster  Powle,  here's  a  young  'ooman  wants  to 

37 


38  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

see  yer,"  said  a  slip-shod  woman,  looking  into  the 
room. 

"  What  does  she  want  ?  "  demanded  the  person 
addressed,  looking  wearily  up  from  his  contempla^ 
tion  of  the  fire. 

"  Don't  know.  She  says  she  wants  to  see  yer 
very  particular." 

"Ask  her  to  come  to-morrow,"  he  said,  turning 
again  to  the  almost  empty  grate. 

"  Please,  sir,  let  me  speak  to  you  to-night,"  said  a 
fresh,  young  voice,  the  owner  whereof  now  entered 
unbidden.  "  I  have  come  a  long  way  to  see  you, 
and  I  shall  be  so  disappointed  if  you-  put  me  off  till 
to-morrow." 

She  was  a  neat  looking  girl,  plainly  dressed,  and 
with  a  bundle  tied  to  her  back. 

"Well,  well,"  said  the  manager,  with  a  feeble 
smile,  "  sit  down  and  tell  me  what  you  want.  But 
if  you  want  me  to  help  you  with  money,  my  poor 
lass,  you  have  come  to  the  wrong  shop.  Busi- 
ness is  very  bad — very  bad,  indeed;  never  was 
worse." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  you  say  that,  sir ;  not 
because  I  'want  you  to  lend  me  anything,  but — I 
should  like  you  to  be  well  off." 

"  That's  ve'ry  kind  of  you,"  he  answered,  with  a 
rather  brighter  smile.  "  Cometo  the  fire — such  a  fire 
as  there  is — and  tell  us  all  about  it.  Can't  you 
afford  us  a  few  more  coals,  Molly  ?  " 

"Well,  I  don't  know,  Muster  Powle,"  said  the 
woman.  "We  be  shut  up, now,  you  see,  and  custo- 


CIRCUS    LIFE, 


39 


mers  is  all  turned  out  for  the  night ;  but,  well,  I  s'pose 
I  must." 

She  brought  a  small  quantity  of  coal  and  a  few 
sticks,  which  soon  roused  the  feeble  fire  into  a  blaze. 

"  If  I  were  superstitious,"  said  the  manager,  "  I 
should  feel  inclined  to  hope  that  your  coming  for- 
boded  some  improvement  in  my  fortunes,  young 
woman.  I  have  been  comparing  this  dying  fire  to 
my  own  life,  going  out  and  fading  away  for  want  of 
fuel.  And  then  you  come  in,  and  there's  a  blaze 
we've  got ! " 

"  I  hope  your  presentiment  may  be  fulfilled,  sir," 
said  the  visitor,  laying  down  her  bundle,  and  drawing 
near  the  fire,  "  for  I  want  you  to  give  me  an  engage- 
ment in  your  company." 

"What  can  you  do?"  asked  Mr.  Powell. 

"I  don't  know;  but  I  can  soon  learn." 

"  That  wont  do.  My  funds  are  too  low  to  allow 
of  my  taking  any  new  beginners.  Have  you  been 
engaged  in  any  company  already  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;    I  have  only  practised  in  private." 

"That  can't  amount  to  much.  Where  do  you 
come  from  ?  " 

"  I  don't  wish  to  answer  any  questions,  Mr. 
Powell,"  replied  the  girl ;  "  so  please  don't  ask  me 
any.  You  must  be  satisfied  with  knowing  that  I 
have  no  relations,  and  that  no  person  has  any  claim 
upon  me.  I  was  very  badly  treated  by  a  person  who 
was  paid  to  take  care  of  me,  and  so  I  left  her." 

"  But,  my  girl,  the  person  who  paid  for  you  must 
have  had  some  claims  on  you." 

/ 


40  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir,  he  would  if  he  had  been  alive ;  but 
it  was  my  father,  who  left  a  little  money  to  pay  for 
bringing  me  up,  and  he  died  many  years  ago ;  and 
then  the  lady  who  took  care  of  me  died  too,  and  I 
fell  into  the  hands  of  another  person,  a  stranger,  who 
ill-treated  me,  and  I  will  never  go  back  to  her.  And 
that  is  all  I  can  tell  you." 

"  What  induced  you  to  come  to  me  ?  "  asked  Mr. 
Powell. 

"  I  once  saw  your  company  perform." 

"  Where  ?  "  he  inquired  hastily,  hoping  to  discover 
something  more  about  her. 

"  I  can't  tell  you  that,  sir.  It  was  some  time  ago ; 
but  I  saw  in  a  paper  that  you  were  here,  and  so  I 
came.  If  you  wont  engage  me,  I  must  go  to  some 
other  manager." 

"  I  don't  want  you  to  do  that,"  he  said.  "  You  are 
very  young,  and  might  fall  into  bad  hands.  \Vhat 
can  you  do  ?  " 

"  I  can  do  several  things  that  I  saw  your  people 
do;  and  then  I  am  very  strong." 

"A  girl's  strength,"  he  repeated,  with  good- 
humored  contempt. 

"  But  just  try  me,  sir.  You  have  no  idea  how 
strong  I  am.  I  believe  I  am  as  strong  as  most 
men." 

"  Can  you  bend  that  arm  ? "  said  the  manager, 
rising,  and  extending  his  right  arm,  which  notwith- 
standing his  intemperate  habits  and  advanced  age, 
was  still  remarkably  muscular. 

The  girl  pressed  one  hand  in  the  hollow  of  the 
\ 


CIRCUS    LIFE.  41 

elbow,  took  a  firm  hold  of  his  clenched  fist,  and 
doubled  up  the  strong  limb,  with  an  effort,  indeed, 
but  without  any  very  violent  exertion. 

"  Whew  ! "  whistled  the  manager,  in  amazement, 
"  it's  hard  if  something  cannot  be  made  of  you.  But 
surely  you  must  be  a  boy  in  disguise.  Take  off  your 
bonnet ;  let  me  see  your  face." 

A  pretty,  blushing,  very  intelligent  young  face  was 
disclosed  to  his  view  when  the  bonnet  was  removed, 
and  his  suspicion  respecting  her  sex  was  instantly 
dispelled,  while  his  hopes  of  "  making  something  of 
her  "  rose  proportionately  high. 

Trial  after  trial  of  her  astonishing  strength  and 
activity  was  made  by  the  delighted  manager.  His 
praises  inspired  her,  and  she  forgot  the  fatigue  of  her 
long  and  hurried  march ;  she  forgot  the  insults  and 
cruelty  that  had  driven  her  from  her  only  place  of 
shelter ;  she  forgot  that  she  was  friendless  and 
alone  in  the  world ;  and  thought  only  of  future 
triumphs. 

More  fatigued  than  herself,  he  at  length  gave  over, 
after  having  promised  again  and  again,  that  she 
should  have  the  best  possible  instruction  and  train- 
ing, to  place  her  at  the  head  of  the  profession,  a 
position  which  she  merited,  in  every  respect. 

"  And  now,  my  dear,  tell  me  your  name,"  he  said. 

"  I  suppose  I  must  make  up  a  name,"  she  replied, 
pretending  to  consider  deeply  a  question  on  which 
she  had  already  made  up  her  mind.  "  If  my  real 
name  were  Frederica,  my  pet  name  might  be  Freddie, 
and  that  would  do  very  well  to  keep  up  the  uncer- 


42  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

tainty  about  my  being  a  boy  or  a  girl.     But  mind,  I 
don't  say  that  my  name  is  Frederica." 

"  I'll  ask  no  more  about  it,  for  I  don't  want  to 
know,"  he  said,  laughing.  "I  don't  want  to  be 
obliged  to  give  you  back  to  your  friends.  So  I'll 
get  my  glass  filled  again,  and  one  for  you,  my  girl, 
and  we'll  drink  '  success  to  the  old  circus,'  and  I'll 
drink  a  health  to  Freddie  the  nondescript." 

But.  Freddie  put  her  hand  upon  the  glass,  and 
looked  at  him  beseechingly.  "  Please  don't,  Mr. 
Powell,"  she  said ;  "  and  as  for  me,  I  would  not  taste 
the  horrid  smelling  stuff  on  any  account.  You'll  be 
so  much  better  without  it,  and  would  you  not  be 
richer  if  you  never  took  it  ?  " 

"  I  believe  you  are  right,  Freddie.  I  know  you 
are.  It  is  an  infernal  habit  that  I  have  fallen  into, 
but  I'll  try,  I  will  indeed,  to  get  the  better  of  it." 

He  looked  regretfully  at  the  empty  glass,  notwith- 
standing his  profession  of  future  reform ;  but  that 
young  pleading  face  overcame  the  unhealthful  crav- 
ing, and  he  went  to  bed  without  a  further  indulgence 
in  the  baneful  vice  which  had  made,  and  still  kept 
him  a  poor  man. 

Apart  from  this  one  besetting  sin,  the  manager 
possessed  many  good  qualities ;  and  though  he  had 
become  slovenly  in  appearance,  and  even  careless  of 
personal  neatness  and  cleanliness,  his  language  and 
manners  bore  unmistakable  evidence  of  his  having 
once  been  a  gentleman. 

From  the  first,  he  felt  a  strong  interest  in  Freddie, 
which  further  acquaintance  ripened  into  an  attach- 


CIRCUS    LIFE,  43 

ment  so  powerful,  that  had  she  totally  failed  in  her 
public  performances,  he  would  have  retained  her 
with  him,  and  shared  with  her  his  last  sixpence. 

No  such  sacrifice  was  needed,  however,  for  Freddie 
took  the  public  by  storm,  and  the  empty  coffers  of 
the  impoverished  company  were  rapidly  filled.  Her 
first  appearance  took  place  after  very  short  prepara- 
tion, on  account  of  the  manager's  bankrupt  condi- 
tion, and  was  confined  to  an  exhibition  of  feats  of 
strength.  Her  youth  and  beauty,  united  to  such 
almost  miraculous  physical  power,  excited  un- 
bounded admiration,  and  on  the  second  night  a  large 
number  of  applicants  could  not  obtain  admission. 

A  few  more  performances  enabled  the  manager  to 
rest  for  a  while,  and  give  the  neophyte  a  course  of 
training.  She  was  so  apt  and  courageous  a  pupil 
that  she  soon  became  expert  as  a  rider,  while  the 
characters  she  assumed  were  Protean.  Whether  as 
the  goddess  Diana,  the  very  embodiment  of  the 
celebrated  antique  statue,  or  as  a  sailor  boy  dancing 
a  hornpipe,  she  was  equally  charming. 

Billets-doux,  and  costly  presents  of  jewelry  were 
showered  upon  her ;  but  these  were  invariably  inter- 
cepted by  the  careful  manager.  The  former  he  threw 
into  the  fire,  and  the  latter  he  returned  in  her  name 
to  the  donors,  if  they  could  be  discovered  ;  and  if  sent 
anonymously,  he  sold  them  and  placed  the  proceeds 
in  a  bank,  in  the  name  of  Freddie  Powell. 

The  young  girl,  in  the  meanwhile,  lived  a  happy, 
childish  life,  unsullied  by  the  vicious  surroundings 
of  the  arena,  and  unconscious  of  the  libertine  glances 


44  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

that  followed  and  feasted  on  her  graceful  movements. 
She  enjoyed  the  active  motion;  she  enjoyed  the  ap- 
plause that  followed  enthusiastically  upon  every  feat; 
she  rejoiced  in  her  success;  but  most  of  all,  she  was 
delighted  to  see  the  improvement  that  took  place  in 
her  adopted  father,  and  his  approbation  was  her 
crowning  glory. 

Mr.  Powell  was  so  careful  of  her,  and  excluded 
with  such  jealous  watchfulness  everything  which 
might  contaminate  her  perfect  purity,  or  even  arouse 
her  vanity,  whether  it  came  in  the  form  of  passionate 
solicitations  from  without,  or  coarse  language  or 
unmeasured  admiration  and  praise  from  those  en- 
gaged with  her  in  the  circus,  that  at  the  end  of  three 
years  Freddie  was  quite  as  innocent,  and  as  ignorant 
of  the  vices  of  the  world,  as  she  would  have  been 
had  she  passed  the  whole  period  at  school. 

For  her.  sake  the  manager  became  careful  in  his 
dress  and  personal  appearance.  For  her  sake  he 
punished  with  instant  dismissal,  any  violation  of 
decency  in  language  among  his  subordinates.  For 
her  sake  he  strove  hard  to  vanquish  his  one  griev- 
ous failing,  and  succeeded  so  far  that  he  was  only 
occasionally  overcome  by  what  we  must,  in  charity, 
call  the  malady  of  intemperance.  When  this  oc- 
curred, he  would  hide  himself  as  much  as  possible 
from  his  adopted  child,  by  going  to  bed  and  pretend- 
ing to  suffer  from  a  violent  headache. 

This  artifice  succeeded  once  or  twice,  but  Freddie 
speedily  found  out  the  real  nature  of  these  attacks, 
and  her  saddened  countenance  and  averted  eyes  re- 


CIRCUS    LIFE.  45 

preached  him  more  powerfully  than  the  loudest 
remonstrances  could  have  done. 

fie  knew,  besides,  that  while  he  was  unable  to 
guard  her,  she  was  left  open  to  the  attacks  of  her 
enemies.  Once  he  was  much  alarmed  by  finding 
that  she  had  received  a  letter  containing  a  diamond 
ring  of  great  beauty  and  value,  during  one  of  his 
attacks.  It  was  some  relief  to  learn  that  this  had 
been  sent  by  a  lady — presumably  of  high  rank — with 
an  urgent  request  that  the  graceful  young  athlete 
would  meet  her  at  a  time  .and  place  which  she 
appointed,  and  afford  her  the  pleasure  of  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  him ;  for  Freddie's  sex 
was  still  a  mystery  with  the  public. 

Freddie  regarded  this  as  an  excellent  joke,  and 
wished  much  to  meet  her  "lady-love,"  as  she  called 
her,  in  either  her  masculine  or  feminine  character ; 
but  this  was  so  strongly  opposed  by  her  old  friend, 
that  she  yielded  to  his  judgment,  and  even  consented 
to  wear  the  ring  only  in  private. 

At  the  end  of  three  years,  while  Freddie  was  in 
the  midst  of  a  most  successful  and  triumphant  en- 
gagement in  London,  Mr.  Powell  was  struck  down 
by  a  dangerous  attack  of  sickness. 

Freddie  threw  up  her  engagement  to  attend  upon 
him,  and  passed  day  and  night  by  his  bedside.  Her 
strength  and  patience  were  sorely  tried,  but  seemed 
inexhaustible.  ' 

The  doctors  at  length  pronounced  the  case  to  be 
hopeless,  and  advised  him  to  prepare  for  death. 

"My  will  is  made,"  he  replied,  calmly;  "and  I 


46  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

have  no  care  nor  anxiety  in  the  world,  except  about 
this  child.  I  must  talk  with  her  alone." 

"  Do  not  let  yourself  be  troubled  on  my  account, 
dear  father,"  said  Freddie,  in  the  deepest  distress. 
"  I  can  always  earn  my  living,  thanks  to  your  teach- 
ing. Don't  heed  what  the  doctors  say.  Keep  quiet, 
and  go  to  sleep.  Perhaps  you  will  get  well  again, 
after  all." 

A  faint  smile  passed  over  the  sick  man's  face. 

"  The  doctors  have  done  their  best,  my  child,"  he 
said  ;  "  and  they  are  r\ot  to  blame  if  they  could  not 
save  me.  But  I  know  there  is  no  hope  for  me. 
Good-bye,  doctor.  Don't  feel  hurt  at  what  this  poor 
girl  said  in  her  grief." 

"  Not  at  all— not  at  all,"  replied  the  doctor.  "  I 
will  remain  with  you  longer,  if  you  wish  it,  Mr. 
Powell ;  or  if  you  or  your  daughter  desire  to  see  me 
again,  you  have  only  to  send  for  me,  and  I  will 
come." 

He  pocketed  his  fee,  and  departed. 

"  Freddie,"  said  the  dying  manager,  eagerly  turn- 
ing towards  her,  "  I  have  a  great  load  of  anxiety  on 
my  mind,  and  only  you  can  remove  it." 

"  Tell  me  what  I  can  do,  father,  and  I  will  do  it." 

"  I  have  never  asked  you  a  question  concerning 
your  family,  or  friends,  or  former  position  in  life, 
since  the  night  you  first  came  to  me,  in  a  dress 
which  I  knew  did  not  belong  to  your  real  rank. 
On  my  deathbed,  you  owe  it  to  me  to  clear  up 
this  mystery.  But  I  also  have  a  confession  to  make 
to  you,  and  perhaps  if  I  begin,  you  will  find  it  easier 


CIRCUS    LIFE.  47 

to  tell  me  your  history.  Lock  the  door,  my  child, 
and  look  round  the  room  to  see  that  no  one  is  listen- 
ing-" 

Freddie  obeyed,  and  when  she  was  once  more 
seated  by  his  side,  he  continued : 

"  I  can  tell  my  own  sad  tale  in  very  few  words; 
because,  for  the  sake  of  others,  I  must  not  enter  into 
particulars.  Upwards  of  thirty  years  ago,  I  was  a 
prosperous  London  merchant.  I  had  a  wife  and 
children  whom  I  dearly  loved.  The  failure  of  an- 
other firm  threatened  me  with  instant  ruin.  God 
knows  it  was  not  to  save  myself  that  I  yielded  to  the 
temptation  of  doing  wrong.  Could  I  but  stave  off 
the  difficulty  for  a  time,  I  was  convinced  I  could 
recover  myself,  and  save  my  family  from  poverty.  I 
committed  a  forgery.  Other  losses  prevented  me 
from  keeping  it  a  secret  by  meeting  the  bill  when  it 
became  due.  I  was  tried,  and  sentenced  to  a  long 
term  of  transportation.  I  escaped  from  the  convict 
settlement  in  such  a  way  that  I  was  supposed  to  be 
dead.  I  wandered  about  in  different  parts  of  the 
world,  and  earned  some  money  by  hard  toil  in  the 
gold  fields.  My  appearance  was  so  changed  that  I 
ran  no  risk  of  discovery,  and  besides  that,  a  man 
who  has  money  is  seldom  an  object  of  suspicion. 
After  twenty  years  I  saw  my  -wife  again ;  but  not  to 
speak  to  her.  She  was  married  to  another  man,  and 
had  another  family  of  children.  I  would  not  ask  a 
question  of  any  one,  lest  my  identity  should  be  sus- 
pected; but  I  examined  a  file  of  the  Times  news- 
paper, from  the  period  of  my  trial.  There  I  saw 


48  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

that  my  youngest  child,  my  only  son,  had  died  in 
infancy.  Then  I  saw  an  account  of  my  own  death. 
Some  years  later  came  the  notice  of  my  wife's 
second  marriage ;  and  more  recently  still,  the  mar- 
riage of  my  three  daughters.  I  have  seen,  since 
then,  notices  of  the  births  of  many  grandchildren, 
not  one  of  whom  must  I  ever  hold  in  my  arms  ! 
Not  one  of  whom  will  ever  call  me  grandpapa  !  It 
is  foolish  of  me  to  feel  this  so  deeply,"  continued  the 
old  man,  wiping  the  fast-flowing  tears  from  his  eyes  ; 
"  but  sometimes  it  seems  almost  more  than  I  can 
bear.  It  was  this  that  first  drove  me  to  seek  conso- 
lation and  forgetfulness  in  drink.  I  have  tried  hard 
to  overcome  that  vice  for  your  sake,  my  child — 
whom  I  have  loved  more  than  you  may  have  sup- 
posed, my  Freddie  !  But  it  has  been  a  hard,  hard 
struggle,  and  I  have  often  been  vanquished  in  it. 
Can  you  forgive  me,  child  ?  " 

"  Oh,  don't  talk  about  forgiveness!  "  sobbed  Fred- 
die. "  I  know  how  you  have  striven,  and  how 
ashamed  you  have  felt  afterwards ;  and  I  have  been 
so  sorry  for  you,  poor  dear,  for  I  saw  that  you  had 
some  sorrow  gnawing  at  your  heart  that  you  would 
not  tell  to  any  one." 

"  Yes — it  has  generally  been  after  reading  of  the 
birth  of  one  of  those  little  grandchildren  whom  I 
must  never  see,  that  the  grief  and  misery  have  been 
too  strong  for  me.  Only  to  think  of  that !  Never 
see  them.  Never,  never,  never  !  " 

He  sunk  into  a  kind  of  doze  as  he  murmured  the 
last  word.  But  suddenly  rousing  himself,  he  ex- 


CIRCUS    LIFE.  49 

claimed,  with  brightening  eyes:  "Yes — there  are 
some  of  them  that  I  shall  soon  see !  Three  dear 
little  ones  are  waiting  for  me  on  the  other  side,  and 
my  own  boy,  too,  and  they  will  not  be  ashamed  to 
recognize  their  old  grandfather.  But,  Freddie,  I  am 
forgetting  you,  and  I  shall  not  rest  in  my  grave  if  I 
leave  you  unprotected.  Tell  me  who  you  are." 

"  My  name  is  Winifred  Wilson,"  she  replied,  con- 
quering her  emotio'n,  and  telling  her  story  as  suc- 
cinctly as  possible.  "  My  father  died  when  I  was 
nine  years  old,  and  left  me  to  the  care  of  a  lawyer, 
who  took  me  to  a  school,  and  left  me  there  without 
seeing  me  again.  My  first  school-mistress  was  very 
kind  and  good,  but  she  died,  and  the  school  was 
taken  by  a  dreadfully  cross,  ill-tempered  woman, 
who  treated  me  so  ill,  that  I  ran  away  and  came  to 
you.  Now  you  know  all." 

"  What  is  the  name  of  that  lawyer  ?  Send  for  him 
this  moment — say  a  dying  man  must  speak  with  him. 
You  will  not  refuse  me  this  last  favor,  will  you, 
Freddie?"  And  he  pressed  her  hand,  and  looked 
yearningly  into  her  face. 

"  Not  for  the  world  would  I  neglect  a  wish  of 
yours  at  this  time,"  she  said,  tenderly  ;  "  I  will  send 
Tomkins — he  will  find  him,  if  any  one  can." 

"  Yes — yes — send  Tomkins  ;  tell  him  to  take  a 
Hansom  cab  with  a  good  horse,  and  bring  him  back 
with  him.  Is  it  far  ?  " 

"  Only  at  Lyon's  Inn — that's  not  far,  I  believe." 

In  half  an  hour  the  messenger  returned,  accom- 
panied by-  Mr.  Mason. 
4 


So  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

The  manager  dozed  again  in  the  interval,  but  on 
the  entrance  of  the  lawyer  he  woke  up,  and  seemed 
so  much  refreshed  that  poor  Freddie  was  deluded 
into  the  hope  of  his  ultimate  recovery. 

"  Father,"  she  said,  in  a  low  voice,  "  Mr.  Mason  is 
here." 

"  Eh  !  What  ?  "  he  demanded,  hurriedly ;  "  what's 
that  you  are  saying  about  Mr.  Mason  ?" 

"  The  lawyer,  you  know,  dear,  whom  you  sent  for." 

"Ay,  ay — to  be  sure.  I  recollect  now.  I  was 
thinking  of  something  else,  I  believe."  Then,  rais- 
ing himself  a  little,  he  pointed  to  Freddie,  and  said : 
"  Do  you  know  this  young  lady,  sir?  " 

"  To  the  best  of  my  belief  I  never  saw  her  be- 
fore," replied  Mr.  Mason,  "  unless  it  were  possible — 
but  no  ;  it  cannot  be  that  she  is  poor  Wilson's  little 
girl." 

"  It  is  all  right,"  murmured  the  manager,  sinking 
back  on  his  pillow  ;  "I  can  leave  her  safely  in  your 
hands.  She  will  tell  you  all  about  herself.  I  have 
no  time.  It's  getting  very  dark.  Take  these  papers. 
My  will  is  among  them.  I  have  done  the  best  I 
could  for  her.  Freddie !  don't  go  on  the  stage,  nor 
keep  in  the  circus  when  you  have  no  old  father  to 
watch  over  you.  Let  her  go  to  a  good  school,  sir, 
and  learn  to  be  a  teacher.  She  has  been  a  blessing 
to  me,  and  my  blessing  will  be  upon  her.  Break  off 
altogether  from  this  life,  my  child ;  it  is  not  fit  for 
you.  It  will  be  hard  to  part  from  the  horses,  I 
know ;  but  Tomkins  will  take  care  of  them.  You 
will  see  to  all  that,  sir  ?  " 


CIRCUS    LIFE.  51 

"  I  will  faithfully  carry  out  all  the  provisions  of 
your  will,"  replied  the  old  lawyer. 

A  short  silence  ensued,  broken  only  by  the  terri- 
ble rattle  in  the  throat  of  the  dying  man,  and  by  Fred- 
die's suppressed  sobs. 

"  Hark  !  "  exclaimed  the  manager,  eagerly  holding 
out  his  arms ;  "  the  little  ones  are  calling  me ! 
Good-bye,  Freddie — my  child — bless  you — bless 
you ! " 

These  were  his  last  words ;  and  Freddie  was  a 
second  time  left  an  orphan. 

A  change  had  passed  over  the  countenance  of  the 
dead  man,  restoring,  probably,  some  of  the  appear- 
ance of  his  younger  days. 

Mr.  Mason  gazed  steadfastly  upon  him,  while  long 
past  scenes  glided  through  his  brain. 

"  Strange  !  "  he  thought  to  himself,  "  very  strange  ! 
I  prosecuted  that  man  fpr  forgeiy  more  than  thirty 
years  ago !  And  now  I  am  called  upon  to  execute 
his  will.  A  pleasant  predicament  for  a  lawyer,  to  be 
pledged  to  carry  out  the  will  of  a  felon — a  man  dead 
in  law,  and  not  able  to  make  a  will !  I  am  not  bound 
to  know  it,  however,  and  probably  no  one  else  is 
aware  of  it.  Dead  men  and  lawyers  tell  no  tales. 


CHAPTER  V. 

GILBERT    BRACEBRIDGE. 

TEN  years  previous  to  the  events  recorded  in  the 
last  chapter,  a  man  who  had  landed  from  an  Aus- 
tralian vessel  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  was 
strolling  through  Covent  Garden  market,  not  with 
the  design  of  buying  from  the  tempting  stores  of 
fruit  and  vegetables  there  displayed,  but  simply  to 
pass  away  the  time.  His  dress  was  coarse  and  much 
worn,  but  his  carriage  was  so  erect,  and  his  counte- 
nance so  frank  and  independent,  that  the  most  casual 
observer  could  not  have  taken  him  for  a  mendicant. 
Except  that  he  wore  his  beard,  which  at  that  period 
had  not  become  general,  he  looked  like  a  mechanic 
out  of  work,  or  possibly  a  sailor.  It  was  difficult  to 
guess  at  his  age,  he  was  so  weather-beaten  and  sun- 
burnt, but  it  could  not  have  exceeded  twenty-five  years. 

His  figure  was  remarkable  for  its  great  height,  the 
breadth  of  the  shoulders,  and  the  general  appearance 
of  strength.  In  fact,  in  every  movement  of  his 
athletic  form,  as  well  as  in  the  free  glance  of  his 
calm  grey  eyes,  power  was  the  predominating  attri- 
bute. So  he  lounged  about,  unquestioned,  though 
not  unobserved,  occupied  by  no  business,- but,  from 
52 


GILBERT  BRACEBRIDGE.  53 

the  glance  that  he  cast  on  the  church  clock  when- 
ever he  passed  it,  apparently  waiting  for  something 
or  some  one. 

An  elderly  woman  passed  him,  carrying  with  great 
difficulty  a  large  basket  loaded  with  vegetables, 
while  her  capacious  apron  was  also  filled  to  over- 
flowing with  punnets  of  strawberries  and  paper  bags 
full  of  various  other  fruits.  At  this  moment  a  large 
cabbage  fell  from  the  basket,  and  rolled  to  the  feet 
of  the  lounger. 

"  You  had  better  let  me  carry  your  basket  for  you, 
ma'am,"  he  said,  as  he  replaced  the  truant  vegetable. 
"  I  have  nothing  to  do,  and  I'll  take  it  with  plea- 
sure." 

"Are  you  looking  for  a  job,  friend?"  she  de- 
manded, with  a  peculiar  accent,  which  at  once  told  a 
practised  ear  that  she  was  a  native  of  one  of  the 
western  counties ;  "I  mostly  fetch  my  errants  myself, 
for  it  takes  a  mortal  sight  of  money  to  pay  them 
boys  every  time — but  if  you  be  in  want  of  a  job  " — 
and  she  cast  a  pitying  glance  on  his  shabby  clothes. 

"  Not  so  hard  up  as  that,  mother,"  he  replied,  with 
a  good-humored  laugh.  "  I'll  carry  your  basket  just 
for  the  pleasure  of  it.  I'm  waiting  about  till  the 
banks  open  ;  I  was  wrecked,  coming  from  Australia, 
and  lost  everything  but  a  bank  bill.  That's  why  my 
clothes  are  so  out  of  sorts.  But  do  let  me  have  a 
good  look  at  your  face.  Your  voice  sounds  as  fa- 
miliar to  me  as  my  own  mother's." 

"  I'm  sartain  sure  I  never  seed  you  before,  hows- 
ever,"  replied  the  woman,  clutching  her  basket 


54  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

firmly,  for  she  had  heard  of  that  fair-seeming 
"  British  seaman,"  who  beguiled  the  too-confiding 
housemaid,  Eliza  Davis,  and  she  feared  to  trust 
her  property  in  the  hands  of  the  courteous 
stranger. 

"  Yet,  if  your  name  is  not  Mrs.  Penruddock,  I'll 
swear  that  mine  is  not  Gilbert  Bracebridge,"  he  ex- 
claimed, as  he  caught  a  full  view  of  her  face  under 
the  close  bonnet  that  she  wore. 

"  Goodness  gracious  me !  "  she  cried,  nearly  letting 
fall  the  basket,  and  the  contents  of  her  apron,  too, 
in  her  surprise ;  "you  can't  be  little  Gilbert  Brace- 
bridge,  though,  to  be  sure,  he  were  a  big  boy  of  his 
age,  too,  when  he  runned  away.  Why,  you  be  a 
man  growed !  There — get  out  with  'ee,  do !  You 
be  a-making  game  of  I !  " 

"  No,  indeed,  I'm  not.  Why  should  I  not  be  a 
grown  man  in  nine  years,  though  they've  not  altered 
you  very  much.  What  can  I  tell  you  about  old 
Tytherleigh  to  make  you  remember  me  ?  There 
was  the  gay  Countess,  enjoying  herself  among  her 
fashionable  friends  in  London,  while  the  poor  old 
Earl  was  pottering  about  in  his  cabbage  garden,  and 
feeding  his  pigs." 

"  Ay,  my  lad,"  said  the  woman,  shrewdly,  "  but 
many  folks  could  tell  of  them  things.  Now,  can 
you  tell  I  who  drownded  my  torn  cat  ?  " 

"  Why  nobody  drowned  him ! "  exclaimed  the 
man,  bursting  into  a  loud  laugh.  "  Bill  Parsons  and 
Jim  Allen  tried  to  drown  him,  but  I  gave  them  both 
a  good  hiding,  and  brought  poor  Tom  home,  shiver- 


GILBERT  BRACEBRIDGE.  55 

ing  in  his  wet  coat.  And  you  gave  me  a  new  six- 
pence for  doing  it." 

"  Sure  enough,  then,  you  be  Gilbert  Bracebridge," 
she  said.  "  Bring  the  basket,  and  come  along  home 
with  I." 

Mrs.  Penruddock  lived  in  one  of  the  streets  that 
lead  out  of  the  Strand  to  the  river ;  and,  like  most 
of  the  inhabitants  of  that  region,  she  supported  her- 
self by  letting  lodgings. 

She  ensconced  her  visitor  in  an  easy  chair  in  her 
little  back  parlor,  beside  the  fire — for,  though  the 
summer  was  far  advanced,  that  small,  cellar-like 
room  was  always  so  damp  and  dark,  that  a  fire  was 
acceptable  at  all  seasons  in  the  mornings — and  went 
down  stairs  to  superintend  the  preparation  of  break- 
fast for  herself  and  numerous  lodgers. 

When  she  returned,  she  found  him  sitting  with  his 
elbows  on  his  knees  and  his  face  buried  in  his  hands, 
in  so  deep  a  fit  of  abstraction  that  her  entrance 
failed  to  disturb  him.  It  was  only  after  repeated 
summonses  that  he  awoke  from  his  reverie  to  a  com- 
prehension of  the  fact  that  an  excellent  breakfast  was 
on  the  table. 

"  The  sight  of  you,  Mrs.  Penruddock,"  he  said, 
turning  again  towards  the  fire  when  the  meal  was 
over,  "  has  brought  back  the  thoughts  of  old  times. 
I  have  been  expecting,  all  breakfast-time,  that  you 
would  tell  me  something  of  what  has  happened 
since  I  went  away." 

"  Well — a  good  deal  has  happened,  but  I  didn't 
like  to  begin  talking  about  it  till  Sally  had  cleared 


56  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

away  the  things,  and  was  safe  at  her  own  breakfast. 
She's  mortal  curous,  is  Sally,  and  would  listen  at  a 
key-hole  sooner  than  say  her  prayers,  I  do  believe." 

"  Has  anything'  been  heard  of  Ellen  ?  "  he  asked, 
in  a  low  tone,  while  his  face  sunk  again  upon  his 
hands. 

"  Not  a  word.  But  they  say,  as  ought  to  know, 
that  My  Lady  always  would  have  it  that  she's  mar- 
ried." 

"  It  is  likely  the  Countess  would  maintain  that, 
after  she  had  consented  to  her  own  son's  marriage 
with  the  poor  deluded  girl.  It  would  be  a  hard  blow 
to  her  pride  to  know  that  argirl  would  jilt  Lord  Ty- 
therleigh  for  another  man,  unless  she  were  going  to 
marry  that  other." 

"  Don't  'ee  say  nowt  about  jilting — that  be  a  hard 
word  for  it,"  said  Mrs.  Penruddock,  deprecatingly. 

"What 'else  can  you  call  it,"  he  rejoined,  almost 
angrily,  "  when  all  the  preparations  were  made,  the 
guests  invited,  and  the  wedding  to  take  place  on  the 
morrow  ?  " 

"  I  be  older  than  you,  and  I  were  older  then,  and 
I  knows  more  about  it  nor  you  did.  The  poor  young 
thing !  She  loved  t'other  one,  but  she  thought  he'd 
played  her  false,  and  deserted  her,  and  so  she  was 
over-persuaded  like,  into  consenting  to  marry  his 
lordship.  But  that  very  night  before  she  were  to 
have  married  him,  the  old  lover,  he  corned  back, 
and  told  her  how  he'd  been  just  at  death's  door,  as 
one  may  say,  and  could  neither  write  nor  send  to 
her;  and  she  went  off  with  'un,  in  his  carriage,  with- 


GILBERT  BRACEBRIDGE.  57 

out  so  much  as  coming  into  the  house  for  a 
bonnet." 

"  How  came  you  to  know  all  this  ?  "  asked  her 
visitor,  looking  up  eagerly. 

"  Why,  you  see,  farmer  Jolliff  were  a-courting  of  I, 
and  I'd  gone  down  the  lane  a  bit,  to  meet  'un,  and 
I  stood  back  when  the  carriage  came,  and  so  I 
heered  summat  of  what  they  said." 

"  Did  you  tell  the  Countess  what  you  had  heard  ?  " 

"  I  never  told  nobody  nothing  about  it,  till  this 
blessed  minute.  I-^or,  thinks  I,  a  still  tongue  breeds 
no  strife;  it  couldn't  do  no  manner  of  good  to  tell 
what  I'd  heered  and  seed,  and,  besides,  I  didn't  want 
to  let  out  that  farmer  Jolliff,  or  any  other  chap,  was 
a-courting  of  I." 

"  Does  the  Countess  ever  speak  of  her  ? "  he 
asked. 

"  Speak  of  her!  "  echoed  Mrs.  Penruddock,  in  tones 
of  amazement.  "  Lord  love  'ee !  don't  'ee  know  she 
be  dead  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed.  You  forget  that  I  have  been  in 
Australia  all  these  years,  and  have  been  out  of  the 
way  of  hearing  English  news.  When  did  she  die  ?  " 

"That's  just  what  I've  been  waiting  to  tell  'ee 
about,  all  along,"  said  Mrs.  Penruddock,  lowering 
her  voice,  and  drawing  her  chair  closer  to  his  in  a 
confidential,  but  rather  mysterious  way.  "  You  must 
know  that  when  Ellen  went  away,  Lord  Tytherleigh 
took  it  to  heart  dreadful:  He  shut  up  her  rooms 
just  as  they  was,  and  would  never  let  any  one  go 
into  'em.  The  shutters  is  barred  over  the  winders, 


58  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

and  there  is  her  wedding  dress  lying  on  the  sofy  in 
the  dressing-room  to  this  blessed  day,  no  doubt ;  and 
everything  else  as  she  left  it.  He  went  on  moping 
for  two  or  three  months,  and  then  came  the  election, 
and  into  that  he  went  heart  and  soul.  And  so  he 
was  returned  to  Parliament,  as  was  nat'ral  he  should 
be,  and  a  mighty  fine  Parliament  man  they  say  he 
made.  Then  the  old  Earl  died,  poor  old  creetur,  and 
they  gave  him  a  grand  funeral,  but  nobody  missed 
him.  And  he  was  hardly  in  his  grave  when  the 
Countess  was  struck  down,  all  of  a  suddenty.  It 
seems  she  knew  from  the  first  how  it  would  go  with 
her,  and  all  she  said  was  that  she  must  see  her  son 
before  she  died.  So  he  was  sent  for  back  from  Lon- 
don, and  they  was  shut  up  together  for  an  hour  or 
more.  Nobody  could  ever  guess  what  it  could  be 
that  she  had  said  to  him  ;  but  he  was  a  changed  man 
from  that  day.  He  dismissed  almost  all  the  servants, 
and  sold  all  the  horses  but  such  as  were  used  on  the 
home  farm,  and  one  saddle  horse  for  himself;  and 
he  gave  up  his  place  in  Parliament,  and  kept  no 
company,  but  just  lived  on  like  a  poor  man,  eating 
the  plainest  food,  and  working  on  the  home  farm 
himself,  just  as  if  that  was  all  he  had  to  depend  on; 
for  he  had  sent  away  the  steward  along  with  the  rest 
and  did  all  his  business  hisself.  There  was  the  cellars 
filled  with  fine  old  wines,  but  never  a  drop  did  he 
drink,  nothing  but  water.  He'd  go  away  sometimes 
to  his  other  estates,  for  he.  managed  everything,  and 
never  neglected  any  business  ;  but  he  never  seemed 
to  care  much  for  anything  except  sitting  in  the  libra'y 


GILBERT    BRACEBRIDGE.  59 

and  reading.  Now,  Gilbert,  what  do  you  think  the 
Countess  could  ha'  said  to  he  ?  " 

"  Nay,  if  you  could  not  guess  when  you  were  in 
the  house  when  it  occurred,  how  can  I  form  any 
opinion  on  the  subject  at  this  distance  of  time  ?  Did 
the  Countess  say  nothing  before  her  death  that  would 
throw  any  light  on  the  mystery  ?  " 

"  She  never  spoke  again,  after  he  called  me  and 
the  nurse  into  the  room,  except  just  at  the  very  last, 
when  she  opens  her  eyes,  and  she  says,  'Tytherleigh,' 
she  says,  for  it  seems  she'd  forgotten  he  was  the 
Earl  then,  and  she  says,  '  Tytherleigh,  wont  you  pro- 
mise? Think  of  your  sisters.'  And  he  says, 
1  Mother,'  says  he,  '  I  promise.'  And  with  that  she 
just  goes  off  like  the  snuff  of  a  candle.  Can  you 
make  head  or  tail  out  of  that  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  think  I  can,"  he  replied.  "  It  seems  plain 
enough  to  me  that  as  the  old  Earl  had  been  unable 
to  make  a  will,  and  all  the  real  property  had  conse- 
quently fallen  to  the  only  son,  the  daughters  were 
not  so  well  provided  for  as  they  might  have  been, 
and  their  mother  was  naturally -anxious  that  he 
should  make  this  up  to  them." 

"  No ;  it  couldn't  be  that,  no  how,"  said  Mrs. 
Penruddock,  thoughtfully ;  "  they  all  on  'em  had  a 
sight  of  money  when  they  was  married,  and  the 
Countess  left  all  her  property  among  'em  too.  So  it 
couldn't  be  that." 

"  Then  it  must  have  been  some  family  secret,"  he 
said,  laughing,  u  that  neither  you  nor  I  have  any 
right  to  know." 


60  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"That's  what  I've  always  suspected,"  she  ex- 
claimed, impatiently,  "and  that's  just  what  I  want 
to  get  to  the  bottom  of." 

"  You'd  better  make  up  your  mind  that  you  never 
"will  get  to  the  bottom  of  it,"  said  he ;  "  for  when  a 
man  like  Lord  Tytherleigh — the  Earl,  I  should  say 
— makes  up  his  mind  to  keep  anything  to  himself, 
you  may  be  sure  he'll  do  it." 

He  rose  as  he  spoke,  and  stretched  his  huge  frame, 
that  almost  reached  to  the  ceiling  of  the  little  room. 

"  Lawk-a-daisy  me  !  "  ejaculated  Mrs.  Penruddock ; 
"  only  to  see  how  you've  growed !  Why,  name  o" 
goodness !  what  age  be  you,  mun  ?  " 

"  I  am  only  twenty-two,"  he  answered,  "  but  I've 
seen  hard  work  and  hard  weather  enough  to  make 
me  look  ten  years  older.  The  bank  is  open  by  this 
time,  so  I'll  go  and  draw  my  money,  and  buy  some 
decent  clothes." 

He  made  arrangements  to  take  up  his  abode  for  a 
time  with  his  old  acquaintance,  who  had  formerly 
been  the  cook  at  Tytherleigh  Court,  and  set  off  on 
his  errand. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

LORD   TYTHERLEIGH. 

No  one  ever  knew  what  it  was  that  the  Countess 
told  her  son  upon  her  death-bed.  The  only  words 
that  met  the  ears  of  the  eager  listeners  at  the  door 
were  these,  spoken  in  a  loud  voice  by  the  young  man  : 
"  Thank  God,  I  was  never  married !  "  Therefore  it 
seemed  unlikely  that  disappointed  affection  was  the 
cause  of  his  abrupt  retirement  from  society,  and  his 
abandonment  of  the  brilliant  political  career  on  which 
he  had  entered. 

Nevertheless  he  ceased  not  to  prosecute  a  quiet, 
though  unremitting  search  for  the  lost  object  of  his 
early  love ;  not  with  any  thought  of  renewing  an 
acquaintance  with  her,  but  under  the  idea  that  her 
hasty  flight  might  have  involved  her  in  some  posi- 
tion of  difficulty  from  which  he  might,  unknown  and 
unsuspected,  be  the  means  of  extricating  her.  He 
always  resolutely  thought  of  her  as  the  wife  of 
another;  yet  underlying  this  chivalrously  maintained 
conviction,  lurked  a  bitter  doubt,  fed  by  the  mysteri- 
ous nature  of  her  flight,  and  the  utter  silence  that 
had  followed  it,  that  the  unknown  lover  whom  she 

had  preferred  to  him  might  have  deceived  her. 

61 


62  WINIFRELTS    JEWELS. 

Goaded  by  this  idea,  which  he  would  not,  even  to 
himself,  acknowledge  as  having  the  slightest  founda- 
tion, yet  which  he  could  not  wholly  stifle,  he  had 
once  employed  a  detective  to  search  through  every 
class  of  the  demi-monde  in  London  and  Paris  for  the 
original  of  a  pprtrait  which  he  entrusted  to  the 
officer,  with  the  strictest  injunctions  to  suffer  no 
other  eyes  than,  his  own  to  rest  upon  it.  After  the 
lapse  of  two  months  he  was  rejoiced  to  learn  that 
no  such  person  could  be  found. 

It  happened,  that,  on  the  very  day  when  Mrs.  Pen- 
ruddock  related  to  Gilbert  Bracebridge  all  that  she 
knew  concerning  the  elopement  of  the  Earl's  intended 
bride,  that  melancholy  man  was  walking  to  and  fro 
in  his  library,  the  only  room,  excepting  his  bedroom, 
which  he  retained  in  use  of  all  the  magnificent  apart- 
ments in  the  fine  old  mansion. 

His  thoughts  were,  as  usual,  occupied  by  anxious 
speculations  concerning  the  fate  of  the  loved  and  lost 
one.  He  passed  in  review  all  the  events  of  her 
childhood,  from  the  time  when  his  mother  adopted 
her  for  her  singular  grace  and  beauty,  to  that  night 
of  agony  when  she  had  so  mysteriously  vanished. 
All  was  mere  barren  speculation.  Nothing  afforded 
the  slightest  clue  by  which  to  unravel  the  tangled 
web  of  mystery  which  surrounded  her  flight. 

"  Could  she  have  drowned  herself? "  he  asked 
himself;  "yet  no.  The  ponds  had  been  drained  in 
searching  for  her,  and  the  river  was  not  so  deep  nor 
so  rapid  as  to  have  hidden  her  in  its  recesses,  or  have 
carried  her  away.  Besides,  what  was  the  meaning 


LORD     TYTHERLEIGH.  63 

of  that  carriage  which  had  passed  through  the  village 
with  only  one  occupant,  a  gentleman,  and  had  shortly 
after  returned,  with  the  blinds  closed,  and  going  as 
fast  as  the  horses  could  gallop  ?  I  have  never  yet 
ventured  to  enter  her  room ;  what  if  a  careful  search 
might  discover  something  ?  " 

He  unlocked  his  desk,  and  took  from  it  a  key. 
But  after  a  moment's  hesitation,  he  replaced  it 
hastily,  saying:  "I  cannot,  I  cannot;  her  chamber 
shall  not  be  desecrated,"  and  threw  himself  into  a 
chair. 

But  another  train  of  thought  passed  through  his 
brain.  He  started  up,  and  muttering,  "  If/  do  not, 
some  other  will,"  he  snatched  up  the  key,  and 
bounded  up  the  wide  oaken  stairs. 

The  echoes  of  the  old  house  were  so  seldom  dis- 
turbed that  they  seemed  frightened  as  he  went,  they 
answered  so  loudly  to  his  footsteps. 

He  opened  the  door.  All  within  was  dark,  except 
for  one  slender  ray  of  light  that  found  its  way  through 
a  chink  in  the  shutters,  and  fell  upon  some  white 
object  that  glimmered  ghostlike  in  its  feeble  beam. 
His  heart  beat  as  he  stepped  across  the  room  gently, 
as  though  he  feared  to  waken  its  slumbering  tenant, 
and  opening  a  window,  admitted  a  flood  of  daylight 
into  the  chamber  that  had  been  shut  up  in  darkness 
for  so  many  years. 

Every  mute  object  around  him  told  of  the  last 
occasion  on  which  that  room  had  been  occupied. 
There  stood  a  trunk,  strapped  and  locked,  ready  for 
the  journey — his  wedding  tour!  Another  stood 


64  WINIFRED'S    JE  WELS. 

open,  waiting  for  some  final  objects  that  were  to  find 
a  place  in  it.  Within  the  open  doors  of  the  ward- 
robe hung  her  travelling  dress  of  delicate  grey  pop- 
lin ;  the  toilet  table  was  strewn  with  trinkets,  gloves, 
combs,  and  a  host  of  little  knick-knacks.  The  tall 
wax  candles,  which  had  lighted  up  her  young  beauty 
the  last  time  she  had  gazed  into  that  dimmed  and 
dusty  mirror,  still  stood  like  sentinels  guarding  their 
posts.  The  vases  were  still  filled  with  flowers,  dried 
up  and  withered  like  his  hopes.  And,  spread  out 
upon  the  couch,  was  her  bridal  dress  of  costly  lace, 
and  the  veil  and  wreath  upon  the  cushion.  But  it 
was  not  to  sentimentalize  over  these  things  that  he 
had  come,  but  to  hunt  up  evidence  by  which  to 
trace  her. 

He  spent  hours  in  the  sorrowful  search.  Nothing 
to  be  found !  Not  a  word !  Not  a  name ! 

At  last,  with  his  hand  upon  the  shutter,  ready  to 
resign  all  those  relics  of  a  bright  young  life  to  the 
darkness  that  had  shrouded  them  so  long,  he  cast 
his  eyes  once  more  round  the  apartment.  There 
was  a  scrap  of  half-burned  paper  lying  on  the  hearth. 
He  shook  off  the  accumulated  dust  and  ashes, 
smoothed  it  out,  and  tried  to  decipher  the  nearly 
obliterated  words.  It  was  written  in  pencil,  in 
a  man's  hand,  on  what  looked  like  the  back  of  a 
letter. 

Alfthat  he  could  distinguish  were  these  detached 
parts  of  sentences,  which  had  been  part  of  the  right 
side  of  the  short  note — "been  sick" — "of  my" — 
"  the  regi-  " — "  to  India  " — "  moment's  interview." 


LORD     TYTHER  LEIGH.  65 

Then  came  the  signature — "  -olph  Trevanian."    And 
underneath  was  written,  "  -urn  this  at  once." 

Re-locking  the  darkened  chambers,  he  went  back 
to  the  library,  and  sat  for  hours  poring  over  this 
scrap  of  faded  manuscript.  Here,  no  doubt,  was  a 
clew,  if  he  could  only  seize  it.  But  it  evaded  him 
persistently.  He  knew  no  Trevanian  as  a  friend  of 
the  family.  What  should  he  do  ? 

Suddenly  a  new  idea  struck  him.  In  ten  minutes 
more  he  stood  on  the  railway  platform,  waiting  for 
the  night  train  to  London  ;  and  while  it  was  yet 
morning  he  was  in  a  private  room  in  a  hotel  near 
Charing  Cross,  waiting  the  arrival  of  his  friend  the 
detective. 

A  quiet-looking,  keen-eyed  little  man  was  soon 
after  announced  as  Mr.  Smith  ;  and  the  Earl  turned 
round  with  a  look  of  annoyance. 

"  Oh  !  It's  you,"  he  said,  while  the  frown  passed 
away  from  his  brow.  "  I  thought  the  waiter  said 
Smith." 

"  So  he  did,"  replied  the  little  man.  "  What's  the 
use  of  giving  him  my  real"  name,  and  setting  all  the 
people  in  the  house  buzzing  to  find  out  what  I  am 
here  for  ?  " 

"  Very  true,"  replied  the  Earl,  smiling  faintly  as 
he  reflected  that  he  was  there  himself  as  Mr.  Robin- 
son, and  was  only  known  as  such  even  to  the  sharp- 
witted  officer.  "  Now  to  the  affair  on  which  I  want 
to  ask  your  opinion.  A  young  lady  disappeared 
some  years  ago,  very  mysteriously,  and  her  friends 
hitherto  been  quite  unable  to  discover  her," 
5 


66  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  The  same  party  as  you  were  after  on  a  former 
occasion,  I  presume,  Mr.  Robinson,  sir,"  interposed 
the  detective. 

"  The  same,"  said  the  Earl.  "  The  suite  of  rooms 
occupied  by  that  young  lady  in  her  guardian's  house 
has  been  locked  up  ever  since  her  departure,  until 
yesterday,  when  a  search  was  made,  and  this  scrap 
of  paper  was  found.  Can  you  make  anything  of 
it?" 

A  pair  of  eyes,  keen  as  gimlets,  were  instantly 
fixed  upon  it,  and  the  busy  brain  behind  them  went 
to  work. 

"  I  think  I  can,"  replied  the  soi-disant  Mr.  Smith, 
with  great  deliberation.  "  The  last  line,  of  course, 
reads,  '  burn  this  at  once,'  which  she  proceeded  to 
do,  but  in  her  haste,  did  not  stay  to  do  it  thoroughly. 
My  theory,  drawn  from  this  paper,  is  that  she  eloped 
with  a  gent  named  Trevanian,  who  might  have  been 
in  a  regiment  going  to  India.  Now,  we've  only  got 
to  consult  an  army  list  for  that  year,  and  we  shall 
see  whether  there  was  a  Trevanian  in  any  regiment 
that  was  sent  to  India.  After  that,  I  can  follow  him 
up,  easily.  Will  you  oblige  me  with  the  exact  date, 
Mr.  Robinson,  sir?" 

"  The  date  ?  "  repeated  the  Earl,  looking  slightly 
confused;  "the  date  of  her  departure,  do  you 
mean  ?  " 

"  If  you  please,  sir." 

"  It  was  the  seventh  of  May,  1845,"  he  answered, 
with  a  sigh  that  was  not  lost  upon  the  professional 
observer. 


LORD     TYTHERLEIGH.  67 

"Thank  you,  sir,"  said  the  detective,  making  a 
note  of  the  date  in  his  memorandum-book. 

"  Spare  no  expense,"  said  the  Earl,  handing  him 
a  bank-note,  "  and  lose  no  time." 

"  I  will  do  my  best,  Mr.  Robinson,  sir,"  responded 
the  detective,  bowing  low,  as  he  received  the  liberal 
fee,  "  and  this  evening,  at  eight  o'clock,  I  will  do 
myself  the  honor  of  waiting  upon  you  again." 

So  he  bowed  himself  out,  and  the  melancholy  re- 
cluse was  left  to  pass  away  the  weary  day  as  best  he 
could.  But  if  he  was  lonely  in  his  library  at  Tyther- 
leigh,  or  when  wandering  about  the  park,  or  attend- 
ing to  his  self-imposed  work  on  his  farm,  how  much 
more  lonely  was  he  in  the  bustling  crowds  of  Lon- 
don. Weary  of  meeting  those  everlasting  streams 
of  unknown  faces,  he  turned  into  the  comparative 
quiet  of  the  Museum  Sculpture  Gallery,  and  strove 
to  forget  his  sorrow  in  contemplating  the  majestic 
ruins  of  antique  art. 

The  detective,  meanwhile,  was  engaged  in  ferret- 
ing out  the  mystery  he  had  undertaken  to  fathom, 
with  all  the  eagerness  and  pertinacity  of  the  terrier 
(to  which  he  bore  some  resemblance)  while  in  pur- 
suit of  a  rat. 

He  had  time  also  to  attend  to  another  little  affair, 
not  exactly  belonging  to  his  present  pursuit,  yet 
growing  out  of  it.  This  was  the  examination  of  a 
file  of  the  Times  newspaper. 

"Here  you  are,"  he  muttered:  "'  Mysterious  dis- 
appearance of  a  young  lady  on  the  eve  of  her  mar- 
riage ;  '  so,  that's  you,  my  Lord  !  I  knew  there  was 


68  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

something  behind  the  Robinson.  Well !  your  secret 
is  safe  with  me.  Though  why  he  should  want  to 
keep  dark  with  me  is  more  than  I  can  understand." 

He  was  punctual  to  his  appointment  at  eight 
o'clock,  and  the  increased  deference  of  his  manner 
was  all  that  marked  his  knowledge  of  his  unassuming 
client  being  a  peer  of  the  realm. 

"  Well,"  said  the  Earl,  as  soon  as  the  door  was 
closed,  "  have  you  succeeded  ?  " 

"As  far  as  we  have  gone,  Mr.  Robinson,  sir,  I 
may  say  I  have,"  replied  the  officer,  producing  his 
note-book.  "  If  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  cast 
your  eye  over  these  mems.,  you  will  see  that  Cap- 
tain Randolph  Trevanian,  of  the  — th  regiment,  sailed 
for  India  on  the  loth  of  May,  1845,  accompanied  by 
his  wife." 

"  His  wife  !  "  repeated  the  Earl,  thoughtfully.  "  It 
would  be  a  great  satisfaction  to  prove  that." 

"  Nothing  easier,  sir;  she  left  home  on  the  seventh, 
and  they  sailed  on  the  tenth.  That  leaves~only  two 
days  on  which  they  could  be  married,  or  three  at 
the  outside,  as  they  might  have  been  married  on  the 
tenth,  before  sailing.  We'll  call  it  three  days,  then. 
They  must  have  been  married  by  licence,  and  most 
likely  in  London." 

"  What  a  fool  I  have  been  not  to  think  of  that 
before  !  "  exclaimed  the  Earl.  "  I'll  inquire  about 
that  to-morrow." 

"  You  will  excuse  me,  Mr.  Robinson,  sir,"  inter- 
posed the  detective  in  his  blandest  manner,  "but  as 
I  have  undertaken  to  carry  this  business  through,  I 


L  ORD     TYTHERLEIGH.  69 

should  prefer  to  carry  it  through.  I  have  my  own 
ways  of  going  to  work." 

"  You  will  not  advertise  ?  "  said  the  Earl,  ner- 
vously. 

"  Nothing  so  vulgar  as  that,  sir.  I  work  out  of 
sight,  like  a  mole,  Mr.  Robinson,  sir.  Never  show 
above  ground  till  I've  got  something  to  show." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right — of  course  you  are  right. 
Manage  the  business  in  your  own  way,  then." 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you,  sir,  for  your  confidence," 
said  the  detective ;  "  may  I  now  trouble  you  for  the 
name  of  the  young  lady?" 

"  Her  name !  "  repeated  the  Earl,  turning  red  and 
pale  by  turns ;  "  oh,  yes !  Her  name  was — was 
Ellen  Bracebridge." 

It  was  ten  years  since  that  name  had  last  crossed 
his  lips ! 

"  Ellen  Bracebridge,"  said  the  officer,  entering  it 
in  his  book  with  as  matter-of-fact  an  air  as  though 
the  agony  of  a  human  soul  were  not  linked  with  its 
sound ;  "  and  her  place  of  residence  ?  " 

"  Is  that  necessary  ?  " 

"  Why,  you  see,  sir,  if  I  don't  find  her  in  London, 
I  shall  have  to  look  for  her  between  the  two  points, 
that  which  she  left,  and  that  where  she  re-appeared, 
which  was  Southampton." 

"  I  see — I  see.  It  was  Tytherleigh  Court,  in 
Devonshire." 

Another  matter-of-fact  entry  levelled  that  agony 
into  the  commonplace. 

"  I  have  one  other  item  of  intelligence  respecting 


70  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

this  Captain  Trevanian,"  continued  the  defective, 
consulting  his  note-book;  "in  '48  —  that  is  three 
years  after  he  went  to  India — he  sold  out.  That 
will  make  it  more  difficult  to  trace  him,  and  it  will 
consequently  involve  more  expense ;  but  if  you  wish 
it,  Mr.  Robinson,  sir,  it  shall  be  done." 

"  My  object  in  instituting  the  present  investigation 
is  to  discover  her  present  residence,"  said  the  Earl ; 
"the  cost  is  of  little  importance." 

"  You  speak  like  a  gentleman,  sir,  and  a  man  of 
business,  and  you  may  rely  on  my  doing  my 
utmost  in  your  service.  In  case  of  my  wishing  to 
communicate  with  you,  sir,  shall  I  always  find  you 
here?" 

"  No,  I  think  not.  My  stay  is  uncertain,  and  my 
residence  for  some  time  will  be  so,  too.  I  will  give 
you  the  address  of  a  friend,  who  will  forward  a  letter 
from  you  at  any  time." 

He  wrote  on  a  slip  of  paper,  "  Mr.  Mason,  Solici- 
tor, Lyon's  Inn." 

"A  highly  respectable  party,  indeed,"  said  the  de- 
tective, placing  it  carefully  in  his  pocket-book; 
"  and  whatever  information  I  may  gain,  Mr.  Robin- 
son, sir,  I  will  give  to  him,  under  seal,  for  you,  sir. 
I  have  the  honor  to  wish  you  good  evening,  sir." 

"Good  evening,"  said  the  Earl;  then  throwing 
himself  wearily  back  in  his  chair,  he  added,  to  him- 
self, "  the  little  man  is  wonderfully  deferential ; — is 
it  the  money,  I  wonder  ?  Or,  does  he  suspect  what 
I  am  ? — Suspect  what  I  am  !  "  he  repeated,  with  a 
sardonic  laugh.  "  No !  No  one  suspects  what  lam  /  " 


CHAPTER    VII. 
THE  EARL'S  DISCOVERY. 

THE  Earl  returned  to  Tytherleigh,  and  for  six 
weeks  waited  anxiously  for  the  news  which  he  began 
to  fear  would  never  come.  One  letter  he  had  re- 
ceived from  his  agent  a  few  days  after  leaving  Lon- 
don, which  set  his  troubled  soul  at  rest  to  some 
extent.  It  contained  a  certificate  of  the  marriage  of 
Ellen  Bracebridge  and  Randolph  Trevanian  at 
Southampton,  on  the  gth  of  May. 

A  month  ago,  or  any  time  previous  to  the  finding 
of  that  half-burnt  paper,  this  would  have  been  all 
that  he  could  wish  for ;  yet  now,  it  seemed  only  to 
increase  his  longing  to  learn  more  about  her.  He 
wanted  to  gain  some  information  concerning  the 
Trevanian  family ;  but  he  had  shut  himself  so  com- 
pletely out  of  society  that  he  knew  not  where  to 
seek  for  such  intelligence.  Through  Mr.  Mason  he 
ascertained  that  there  was  no  Randolph  among  the 
higher  branches  of  the  family;  but  there  were  a 
few  disreputable  members  (probably  disreputable, 
because  poor)  only  distantly  connected,  and  hardly 
recognized  by  the  more  prosperous  portion. 

The  idea  of  Ellen — his  Ellen,  as  he  sometimes 

71 


72  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

fondly  called  her — being  destitute,  perhaps  wanting 
the  necessaries  of  life,  while  he  had  the  means  and 
the  will  to  help  her,  was  maddening  to  his  impatient 
spirit.  Yet  frequently,  when  fancy  had  taken  her 
wildest  flights  in  depicting  her  imaginary  sufferings, 
he  would  check  himself  with  the  half  uttered  excla- 
mation, "  And  yet,  thank  God !  she  did  not  marry 
me!" 

His  dreams  and  anxieties,  however,  did  not  divert 
his  attention  from  worldly  affairs.  As  if  his  only 
dependence  for  the  means  of  aiding  her  rested  on 
his  own  earnings,  he  devoted  himself  more  and  more 
assiduously  to  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm,  even 
working  on  it  himself. 

At  length  came  a  telegram,  sent  by  the  detective 
through  Mr.  Mason.  It  only  contained  these  words, 
"  Found.  Please  come  to  London." 

He  obeyed  the  summons  without  delay,  and  was 
soon  in  close  conference  with  his  diligent  emissary. 
It  is  needless  to  detail  the  whole  of  their  conversa- 
tion. The  officer,  who  knew  Paris  as  well  as  he  did 
London,  and  following  up  some  faint  scent  on  which 
he  had  alighted,  went  to  the  former  city,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  finding  Captain  Randolph  Trevanian,  a 
dissipated  man  who  gained  a  precarious  living  at 
the  gambling  table.  He  found  no  difficulty  in  culti- 
vating an  acquaintance  with  such  a  man.  He  ac- 
companied him  to  his  favorite  haunts,  lent  him 
money,  and  gradually  wormed  himself  into  his  con- 
fidence, till  he  obtained  from  him  the  information 
that  he  had  a  wife,  living  in  a  small  village  near  St. 


THE    EAR  US    DISCOVERY,  73 

Malo.  "  Mr.  Smith "  was  soon  after  obliged,  by 
urgent  business,  to  return  to  England;  but  he  took 
St.  Malo  on  his  way,  and  saw,  at  the  village  indi- 
cated by  his  friend,  a  lady  whom  he  believed  to  be 
the  original  of  the  portrait  which  the  Earl  had  placed 
in  his  hands  some  years  before. 

Having  rewarded  the  detective's  diligence  beyond 
his  utmost  expectations,  the  Earl  set  ofif  at  once  for 
France.  It  was  evening  when  he  reached  the  vil- 
lage, and  he  had  only  sufficient  light  to  distinguish 
the  house  by  the  description  which  had  been  given 
to  him,  before  night  closed  in,  cloudy  and  moonless. 
He  had  no  intention  of  presenting  himself  before 
the  inmate  of  the  cottage,  who,  if  she  were  indeed 
his  former  playmate  and  once  affianced  wife,  would 
certainly  recognize  him.  All  that  he  desired  was  to 
identify  her  beyond  the  possibility  of  error. 

The  cottage  was  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  a 
garden,  and  through  this  he  wandered,  making  him- 
self acquainted  with  the  various  paths,  and  the  spots 
where  he  could  best  shelter  himself  among  the  thick 
shrubs  and  evergreens,  should  he  be  discovered  and 
pursued. 

A  light  at  length  glimmered  through  one  of  the 
front  windows,  and  he  cautiously  approached  to 
reconnoitre. 

A  fragile  looking  woman  sat  by  a  table  on  which 
a  lamp  was  burning.  A  small,  much  used  workbox 
stood  open  before  her,  and  her  wearied-looking 
hands  were  employed  in  repairing  a  child's  garment. 
The  Earl  made  no  noise ;  yet  she  seemed  half  con- 


74  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

scious  that  strange  eyes  were  watching  her,  for  she 
looked  round  nervously,  and  shivered. 

As  she  turned  her  face  towards  the  window,  he 
beheld  the  countenance  of  his  lost  love.  Pale, 
indeed,  and  prematurely  withered,  and  the  features 
sharpened  by  suffering,  but  still  the  face  that  had 
been  the  light  of  his  youth. 

In  that  moment,  the  love  that  had  burned  in  his 
breast  with  undiminished  fervor  during  all  the  long 
years  of  their  separation,  passed  away  like  the  last 
cloud  of  incense  from  an  altar,  and  a  deep  and  holy 
pity  took  its  place.  He  had  come  resolved  to  aid 
her  because  he  still  loved  her ;  but  now  that  resolve 
took  a  ten-fold  firmer  hold  upon  his  soul,  because  it 
was  founded  upon  a  pure  and  divine  compassion. 

"  Freda !  Freda !  "  cried  Mrs.  Trevanian,  in  a  weak 
and  rather  querulous  voice.  "  Bring  me  a  shawl,  my 
child.  I  feel  quite  chilly." 

"  Yes,  dear  mamma ! "  answered  a  sweet,  clear 
child's  voice,  and  in  a  moment  after,  a  girl  of  ten  or 
eleven  years  old  entered,  carrying  a  shawl,  which  she 
wrapped  tenderly  round  her  mother's  shoulders, 
ending  with  a  loving  embrace  and  a  kiss. 

"  Poor  darling ! "  said  the  mother,  passing  her 
hand  caressingly  over  her  daughter's  clustering 
curls. 

"Why  do  you  say  poor  darling?"  asked  Freda, 
kneeling  on  the  stool  at  her  mother's  feet.  "  I  think 
I  am  a  very  rich  darling,  when  I  have  such  a  mother 
as  you  are,  to  make  me  happy  all  day  long." 

"  But  I  cannot  do  for  you  what  I  want  to  do,  my 


THE    EARL'S    DISCOVERY.  75 

own,"  sighed  Mrs.  Trevanian.  "  You  ought  to  go 
to  a  very  good  school,  and  to  have  many  things 
besides,  that  I  have  not  the  means  to  pay  for." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  you  have  so  much  trouble  in 
mending  my  clothes,  dear  mamma,"  said  the  child, 
looking  regretfully  at  the  torn  garment  on  her 
mother's  knee  ;  "  but  if  it  were  not  for  that,  I  would 
not  mind  wearing  them  after  they  get  old.  I  was 
not  careless,  indeed,  when  I  tore  that  great  hole." 

"  My  pet,  I  know  you  were  not,"  replied  her 
mother,  pressing  her  to  her  bosom.  "  You  have 
grown  out  of  all  your  clothes,  my  poor  darling,  and 
then  they  are  so  very,  very  old,  too,  that  I  know  you 
cannot  help  tearing  them." 

The  watcher  at  the  window  had  heard  enough,  and 
stepped  cautiously  back.  •  He  had  nearly  reached  the 
garden  gate,  walking  close  under  the  shadow  of  the 
bushes,  when  he  heard  the  latch  rattle,  the  gate 
swung  back,  and  a  man  went  hastily  towards  the 
house,  almost  touching  him  as  he  passed.  Who 
could  this  be  ?  An  authoritative  knock  at  the  door 
seemed  to  intimate  that  the  new  comer  had,  or 
assumed  to  have,  the  right  of  admittance.  Were 
there  other  occupants  of  that  small  cottage,  besides 
Mrs.  Trevanian  and  her  child  ?  Or  was  this  Ran- 
dolph Trevanian  himself? 

While  these  thoughts  were  passing  through  his 
mind,  the  door  was  opened.  The  shrinking  figure 
of  Freda,  holding  it  wide  as  she  retreated  behind  it, 
was  visible  for  a  moment  by  the  light  of  the  lamp  in 
the  parlor,  and  the  stranger  strode  through,  taking 


76  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

no  notice  of  the  child,  entered  the  parlor  without 
ceremony,  and  shut  the  door,  leaving  poor  little 
Freda  in  the  darkened  passage. 

To  leave  the  premises  now  seemed  absolutely 
impossible.  It  was  in  vain  that  he  represented  to 
himself  that  he  had  no  right  to  remain  there,  the 
self-constituted  guardian  of  another  man's  wife  and 
child  while  their  legal  protector  was  present.  Nature 
was  stronger  than  law  ;  and  the  very  manner  in  which 
he  had  pushed  by  that  little  terrified  girl,  and  then 
shut  her  out  in  darkness,  was  enough  to  arouse  every 
drop  of  chivalrous  blood  in  the  Earl's  body.  He  re- 
turned to  the  window,  and  with  even  greater  caution 
than  before,  peeped  in  through  the  tangled  boughs 
of  a  clematis  that  half-covered  the  rustic  casement. 

The  stranger  was  seated"  at  the  table,  opposite  to 
Mrs.  Trevanian,  who  trembled  and  cowered  under 
his  fierce  glance,  like  a  bird  under  the  gaze  of  a  ser- 
pent. Even  at  that  critical  moment  the  Earl  was 
struck  by  the  wonderful  personal  beauty  of  the  man. 
His  tall,  symmetrical  figure,  exquisitely  cut  features, 
clear  dark  complexion,  brilliant  eyes  and  teeth,  and 
dark  curly  hair,  all  were  perfect.  But  the  soul  that 
animated  him  was  diabolical.  He  looked  like  a 
beautiful  devil. 

"  I  tell  you  that  I  will  have  them  !  "  were  the  first 
words  the  Earl  heard  him  utter,  and  he  struck  a 
fierce  blow  upon  the  table  to  emphasize  his  speech. 

"  Oh,  Randolph ! "  pleaded  the  terrified  woman, 
"  remember  they  are  my  poor  child's  only  dowry. 
What  will  become  of  her  when  I  am  gone  ?  I  know 


THE    EARL'S    DISCOVERY.  77 

I  have  not  very  long  to  live,  and  I  have  kept  these 
few  jewels  so  sacredly  all  these  years  to  be  a  provi- 
sion for  her  when  I  am  dead." 

"  You  are  always  talking  some  infernal  nonsense," 
he  replied,  contemptuously.  "  What  the  devil  ails 
you  now  ?  " 

"  My  strength  fails  more  and  more.  And  I  get  so 
little  for  teaching,  and  have  to  work  so  hard  and 
walk  so  far." 

"  Grumbling  as  usual,"  replied  the  handsome 
brute ;  "  but  that's  all  nonsense.  Walking  is  good 
for  you." 

The  listener  ground  his  teeth. 

"  But  not  so  much  of  it,  and  in  all  weather,"  said 
the  patient  wife. 

"  Then  why  don't  you  give  up  your  teaching,  if 
you  don't  like  it  ?  "  asked  Trevanian,  with  an  air  of 
supreme  indifference. 

"  And  starve  ?  "  she  suggested,  reproachfully. 

"Just  as  you  like  for  that,"  he  replied,  with  a 
heartless  laugh.  "  I  leave  you  to  manage  your  own 
affairs  as  you  choose.  But  I  did  not  come  here 
to-night  to  discuss  all  these  questions  with  you,  but 
merely  to  fetch  those  jewels.  They  will  be  safer  in 
my  hands  than  in  yours,  for  you  would  be  robbed, 
and  perhaps  murdered,  if  you  were  known  to  have 
such  valuables  in  the  house." 

"  But  nobody  will  know  unless  you  tell  them," 
she  answered,  with  some  little  appearance  of  spirit ; 
"and  if  they  were  to  come  and  murder  me,  neither 
they  nor  you  would  ever  be  able  to  find  them." 


78  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  I  am  not  such  an  egregious  ass  as  to  set  any 
one  on  to  murder  you,  you  little  fool,"  he  said,  con- 
temptuously, stroking  her  under  the  chin  with  one 
finger.  "  I  should  have  to  pay  a  larger  annuity  in 
the  shape  of  hush  money  than  the  present  state  of 
my  exchequer  could  well  afford.  Come  now,  Nell, 
be  reasonable,"  he  continued,  taking  her  hand,  and 
assuming  an  air  of  tenderness  ;  "  give  me  those 
jewels — you  will  never  want  to  wear  them  while 
you  remain  here — it  is  not  safe  for  you  to  keep  them 
about  you  in  this  lonely  place — and  I  pledge  you  my 
word  of  honor  that  Freda  shall  have  the  full  value 
of  them  when  she  marries,  or  is  old  enough  to  want 
the  money." 

A  very  slight  elevation  of  the  eyebrows  marked 
her  scornful  appreciation  of  his  appeal  to  his  honor. 
He  saw  it,  and  his  dark  eyes  flashed  with  a  vicious 
light,  yet  his  low,  well-modulated  voice  lost  none  of 
its  insinuating  sweetness. 

"  Come,  now,"  he  added,  after  a  short  pause,  "  will 
you  think  better  of  it,  Nelly,  and  let  me  have  those 
jewels  ?  " 

"  No,  Randolph,  never"  she  answered,  firmly.  "  I 
look  upon  them  as  a  sacred  trust  for  my  child,  and 
nay  conscience  will  not  let  me  part  with  them:" 

"  Will  you  come  with  me  to  Paris  or  London,  and 
sell  them — for  they  are  of  no  use  to  you,  or  Freda 
either,  in  their  present  form — and  then  lend  me  only 
a  small  part  of  the  money  ?  " 

"  I  could  not  trust  you,  Randolph,"  she  said, 
sadly.  "  I  know,  too  well,  that  in  either  of  those 


THE     EARL'S    DISCOVERY.  79 

places  you  could  lawfully  take  from  me  anything 
I  possess." 

"  And  that  is  your  final  decision  ?  " 

"  It  is." 

"  Well,  then,  nothing  more  remains  to  be  said,"  he 
remarked,  with  the  tone  of  one  who  entirely  ac- 
quiesces in  the  inevitable.  "  Will  you  excuse  the 
light  for  one  moment  ?  " 

He  left  the  room,  carrying  the  lamp  in  his  hand. 
The  Earl  heard  him  call  Freda,  in  a  mild  tone,  and 
afterwards  he  distinguished  the  sound  of  his  firm 
tread  ascending  the  stairs. 

"  All  danger  of  violence  seems  past,"  thought  the 
unseen  witness  of  the  painful  scene  which  had  just 
been  enacted,  *'  and  I  have  no  longer  an  excuse  for 
keeping  this  undignified  post  of  eavesdropper ;  and 
yet  there  was  a  devilish  glance  in  that  fellow's 
eye  as  he  went  out !  No — I  cannot  leave  them  yet." 

In  a  few  moments  Trevanian  returned  with  the 
lamp  and  a  large  key. 

"  Now,  Mrs.  Trevanian,"  he  began,  but  stopped 
abruptly  when  he  saw  that  his  wife  lay  back  in  her 
chair,  pale  and  rigid. 

"  By  the  Lord  Harry !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  if  she's 
dead,  that  spoils  all !  " 

On  investigation,  however,  he  found  that  she  was 
not  dead,  but  in  a  death-like  fainting  fit.  With  con- 
siderable skill  and  care  he  administered  restoratives, 
though  he  swore  rather  savagely  when  he  could 
find  neither  wine  nor  brandy  in  the  "  infernal  hole." 

Gradually  she  recovered  without  the  aid  of  any 


8o  WINIFREDS    JEWELS. 

other  stimulant  than  water,  and  sat  up,  shivering,  in 
her  chair. 

"  Are  you  sufficiently  recovered  to  understand 
what  I  say  to  you  ?  "  he  demanded,  sternly. 

She  nodded  assent. 

"  I  must  return  to  Paris  by  the  next  train,  which 
leaves  St.  Malo  in  two  hours ;  therefore  I  have  no 
time  to  waste,  otherwise  I  would  allow  you  a  longer 
space  to  recover  yourself.  Do  you-  recognize  this 
key?" 

She  stared  at  it  with  a  bewildered  look,  and  mur- 
mured something  that  the  Earl  could  not  distinguish. 

"  Yes,  you  are  right,"  said  Trevanian  ;  "  this  is 
the  key  of  the  garret.  Your  Freda  is  locked  up 
there." 

He  said  this  very  emphatically,  and  paused. 

"  Why  have  you  locked  her  there  ?  "  whispered 
the  poor  mother,  sinking  back. 

"  Command  yourself,  and  do  not  faint,"  he  said,  in 
a  hard,  cruel  tone.  "If  you  do,  it  will  be  the  worse 
for  her.  I  must  go  back  to  Paris  to-night,  and  if  I 
cannot  have  the  jewels,  I  will  at  least  have  revenge. 
Do  you  understand  me  ?  " 

"  I  hear  what  you  say,  but  cannot  understand 
what  you  mean." 

"  I  will  soon  make  my  meaning  perfectly  clear," 
he  replied,  with  a  fiendish  smile.  "  Freda  is  locked 
in  the  garret,  and  this  is  the  key.  Give  me  the 
jewels,  and  I  give  you  this.  You  can  let  her  out, 
and  no  harm  is  done  to  her.  Keep  to  your  resolu- 
tion and  refuse  to  give  up  that  box  of  gewgaws,  and 


THE    EARL'S    DISCOVERY.  Si 

I  set  fire  to  the  pile  of  pine  wood  under  the  stairs, 
just  wait  till  the  stair-case  is  consumed,  and  then 
leave  you  to  get  your  child  out  as  you  can." 

"  It  is  not  in  human  nature  to  do  such  a  deed !  " 
cried  the  horrified  woman. 

"  Possibly  not,"  he  replied,  coolly,  "  but  it  is  in  my 
nature,  as  you  will  find  if  you  persist  in  your  obsti- 
nacy; and,  furthermore,  I  will  only  give  you  one 
minute's  time  for  deliberation." 

He  took  from  his  pocket  a  box  of  matches,  which 
he  displayed  ostentatiously,  while  he  observed  the 
hands  of  his  watch. 

Before  he  left  London  the  Earl  had  provided  him- 
self with  a  small  revolver,  not  knowing  but  that  his 
present  quest  might  lead  him  into  some  position  of 
danger.  He  drew  it  forth  with  a  feeling  of  deep 
thankfulness ;  for  he  was  a  slightly-built  man,  of 
only  middle  height,  and  by  no  means  fitted  to  cope, 
unarmed,  with  the  athletic  savage  with  whom,  he 
felt  convinced,  he  should  be  compelled  to  combat. 
The  poor  distracted  wife  and  mother  might  find  it 
impossible  to  believe  her  husband  capable  of  such 
atrocity ;  but  he  read  in  the  villain's  handsome  face 
and  gleaming  eye  a  depth  of  malignity  that  would 
carry  out  his  vindictive  threats  to  the  utmost. 

When  the  minute  had  expired,  Trevanian  quietly 
returned  his  watch  to  his  pocket,  and  quitted  the 
room,  without  so  much  as  looking  at  his  wife,  who 
sat  motionless,  staring  at  him  with  a  vacant  gaze. 
At  the  sound  of  striking  the  matches,  she  rushed  to 
the  door,  exclaiming :  "  Oh  !  No !  no !  no !  Stay, 
6 


82  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

Randolph !  I  will  give  them  to  you !  I  will,  in- 
deed !  Come  back  !  They  are  here !  " 

"  Be  quick,  then,"  he  said,  returning  hastily. 

"  Is  the  fire  out  ?  "  she  asked  eagerly,  trying  at 
the  same  time  to  pass  through  the  door. 

"  It  is  not  kindled,"  he  answered,  pushing  her 
back ;  "  give  me  the  jewels,  and  let  me  be  gone." 

She  raised  a  corner  of  the  carpet,  removed  a  small 
portion  of  the  floor,  and  took  a  box  from  the  recess 
thus  opened. 

Trevanian  snatched  it  from  her,  took  one  hasty 
glance  at  the  contents,  and  darted  from  the  room. 

"The  key!  Give  me  the  key!  "  she  cried,  follow- 
ing him.  Then  uttered  a  piercing  shriek,  and  she 
seemed  to  cling  to  him,  while  she  continued  to 
scream  out,  "  The  house  is  on  fire !  My  child !  My 
child  !  Randolph,  give  me  the  key !  " 

Then  came  the  sound  of  a  blow — a  heavy  fall — 
and  Randolph  Trevanian  rushed  down  the  garden. 

All  had  passed  so  rapidly  that  the  Earl  had  only 
time  to  reach  the  door  at  the  moment  when  the 
ruffian  passed  out.  He  followed  quickly  in  pursuit, 
but  the  other  had  so  much  the  advantage  in  height 
and  swiftness  that  he  had  no  chance  of  overtaking 
him. 

"  Stop!  "  he  shouted ;  "  Randolph  Trevanian,  stop, 
or  I  will  shoot  you  !  " 

Trevanian  turned,  and  the  Earl  was  by  his  side  in 
an  instant. 

"  Give  up  your  plunder,  and  the  key ! "  he  said, 
presenting  his  revolver  at  Jrevanian's  head. 


THE    EARL'S    DISCOVERY.  83 

The  answer  was  a  shot  that  singed  his  hajr.  To 
hesitate  now  would  be  madness,  for  more  lives  than 
his  own  depended  on  his  immediate  return  to  the 
cottage.  The  Earl's  shot  took  effect  as  his  adver- 
sary was  starting  forwards,  and  brought  him  to  the 
ground  on  his  face.  He  fell  upon  his  own  pistol, 
which  exploded,  probably  completing  the  work  of 
death. 

Without  bestowing  a  thought  upon  him,  who,  if 
dead,  had  brought  his  punishment  upon  himself,  the 
Earl  snatched  up  the  key  and  box,  which  lay  to- 
gether as  they  had  dropped  from  Trevanian's  left 
hand,  and  ran  back  with  all  speed  to  the  burning 
house. 

Mrs.  Trevanian  lay  senseless  or  dead  where  her 
brutal  husband  had  flung  her ;  but  that  was  no  time 
to  attend  to  her,  for  the  flames  had  made  consider- 
able progress,  and  Freda's  situation  was  becoming 
critical. 

"  Freda ! "  he  shouted,  as  he  bounded  up  the 
stairs,  though  half  suffocated  by  the  smoke,  "  knock 
at  the  door  to  guide  me ;  I'm  coming  to  let  you  out. 
Knock  loud ! " 

Freda  had  been  terrified  by  her  mother's  screams, 
and  afterwards  by  the  smoke,  but  her  dread  of  her 
father  was  too  great  to  allow  her  to  cry  out  for  help. 
But  this  was  the  voice  of  a  stranger  that  called  to 
her  in  kindly  accents,  and  the  poor  child  made  such 
a  drumming  on  the  door  of  her  prison  that  her  de- 
liverer found  it  without  difficulty. 

Catching  her  up  in  his  arms,  and  giving  her  hur- 


84  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

ried  directions  to  hide  her  face  in  his  neck  and 
breathe  through  his  beard,  the  Earl  commenced  the 
descent  of  the  narrow  stairs.  But  the  smoke  was 
now  so  dense  that  he  staggered  and  nearly  fell  when 
he  reached  the  landing. 

"  Go  into  mamma's  bed-room,"  whispered  a  voice 
in  his  ear;  "  it's  just  before  you — v/e  can  get  out  of 
the  window." 

He  stumbled  into  the  room,  half  dead.  Freda 
slipped  from  his  arms,  and  drew  him  to  the  open 
window,  where  the  fresh  air  partially  restored  his 
disordered  senses. 

"  Where  is  mamma  ?  "  demanded  the  child,  anx- 
iously. 

The  question  fully  roused  him. 

"  Safe,  I  trust,  my  child,"  he  answered ;  "  but  I 
must  go  to  her." 

The  descent  from  the  window  was  easily  accom- 
plished by  means  of  the  trellis  that  supported  the 
climbing  plants  which  covered  the  cottage  walls. 
Mrs.  Trevanian  was  still  insensible,  and  the  Earl  bore 
her  from  the  burning  building  and  laid  her  on  the 
grass  in  the  garden. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
ELLEN  TREVANIAN'S  DEATH. 

THE  alarm  of  fire  had  now  spread  through  the 
village,  and  first  on  the  scene  of  action  arrived  seve- 
ral of  the  good  nuns  from  a  neighboring  convent  of 
Sisters  of  Charity. 

To  them  the  Earl  briefly  stated  that  he  had  seen, 
in  passing,  that  the  house*  was  on  fire,  and  had  been 
fortunate  enough  to  rescue  the  lady  and  child.  He 
pressed  Freda's  hand  as  he  said  this,  as  a  hint  to  her 
not  to  be  more  communicative. 

When  Mrs.  Trevanian  began  to  show  symptoms 
of  returning  life,  two  of  the  nuns  carried  her  away 
to  the  convent,  so  that,  on  awakening  to  conscious- 
ness, she  might  not  behold  the  destruction  of  her 
home.  The  Earl  himself  was  so  dizzy  and  sick  that 
he  was  fain  to  lean  on  the  arm  of  a  stalwart  sister, 
and  seek  the  shelter  of  the  same  hospitable  asylum. 
Freda  held  his  other-  hand ;  but,  ill  as  he  felt,  he  did 
not  forget,  before  leaving  the  garden,  to  ascertain 
that  the  box  containing  Winifred's  jewels  was  safe  in 
the  pocket  into  which  he  had  dropped  it. 

"Are  you  crying,  Freda?"  he  asked,  as  a  sob  fell 
on  his  ear. 


86  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  I  can't  help  it,  sir,"  replied  the  child,  as  though 
she  were  pleading  guilty  to  a  fault. 

"  Don't  cry,  my  brave  little  darling,"  he  continued, 
in  a  soothing  tone,  "  your  mother  is  not  much  hurt, 
I  hope,  and  will  soon  recover." 

"  I  am  not  crying  about  that,"  said  Freda,  "because 
mamma  often  faints  like  that,  and  always  gets  quite 
well  again.  But,  oh!  what  will  poor  mamma  do, 
now  all  her  things  are  burnt  ?  We  shall  have  no 
home  now! " 

She  ended  with  a  burst  of  piteous  weeping. 

"  My  child,"  said  the  Earl,  in  a  tone  that  carried 
conviction  with  it,  "you  shall  have  a  much  better 
home.  Your  mamma  shall  never  again  go  out 
teaching,  nor  ever  again  be  obliged  to  mend  your 
clothes.  She  shall  have  a  carriage  and  plenty  of 
money,  and  you  shall  have  a  pony." 

"Oh,  thank  you!  thank  you,  sir!"  cried  Freda, 
wiping  her  eyes,  though  I  am  sorry  to  say  it  was  on 
the  skirt  of  her  frock.  But  a  fresh  gush  came  with 
another  convulsive  sob,  as  she  said,  mournfully, 
"  And  I'm  afraid  my  poor  little  old  doll  is  burnt, 
too ! " 

The  Earl  stooped,  and  folded  the  child  in  his 
arms. 

"  Freda,"  he  said,  kissing  her,  "  you  shall  have  the 
prettiest  doll  that  can  be  bought  in  London." 

"Oh,  thank  you,  sir;  how  kind  you  are!"  she 
said,  returning  his  kiss  with  child-like  frankness. 
Then,  her  ideas  flying  off  at  a  tangent  to  another 
subject,  she  caressed  his  beard  with  her  small  hands, 


ELLEN    TREVANIAN'S    DEATH.  87 

and  said,  "  How  your  beard  smells  of  smoke  !  The 
dear  beard  that  kept  me  from  being  smothered  when 
you  carried  me  down  those  dreadful  stairs  !  " 

The  child's  heart  was  completely  overcome  as 
she  thought  of  all  this.  She  sprang  at  him,  clasped 
both  arms  round  his  neck,  and  kissed  him,  and 
sobbed  out  in  broken  sentences  her  praise  and  grati- 
tude, till  the  nun  was  obliged  to  interfere,  and  take 
her  from  him  before  he  was  deprived  of  the  little 
breath  that  remained  in  his  body.  "To-morrow," 
she  said,  "when  Monsieur  was  quite  recovered, 
Mademoiselle  might  kiss  him  as  much  as  she  pleased, 
but  to-night  she  must  have  a  little  mercy." 

Fresh  water  and  rest  soon  restored  the  Earl,  and 
he  then  requested  an  interview  with  the  Superior  of 
the  community. 

A  graceful  and  gracious  lady  made  her  appear- 
ance. She  was  somewhat  advanced  in  age,  and  her 
face  beamed  with  sympathy  and  benevolence.  She 
had  lived  in  the  convent  for  forty  years,  yet  her 
manners  had  lost  nothing  of  the  easy,  yet  dignified 
grace  which  they  had  acquired  in  the  polished  and 
courtly  society  in  which  her  early  womanhood  had 
been  spent. 

The  Earl  was  a  quick  and  accurate  reader  of  char- 
acter, and  a  very  brief  conversation  convinced  him 
that  Mrs.  Trevanian  could  have  no  protector  so  effi- 
cient as  this  lady,  provided  she  were  put  in  posses- 
sion of  the  exact  truth  of  the  case.  He  therefore 
related  to  her  the  whole  story  from  beginning  to 
end,  suppressing  only  the  one  circumstance  of  Ellen's 


88  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

engagement  to  himself.  But  this  the  quick-witted 
Superior  inferred  when  he  confided  to  her  his  own 
name  and  rank,  under  a  promise  to  keep  it  a  pro- 
found secret  from  Mrs.  Trevanian.  He  did  not  de- 
sire, he  said,  that  she  should  feel  herself  under  obli- 
gations to  a  family  towards  some  members  of  which 
she  might  be  conscious  of  having  acted  with  a 
slight  degree  of  ingratitude. 

When  he  narrated  Trevanian's  horrible  attempt  to 
burn  his  own  child,  the  gentle  nature  of  the  Supe- 
rior was  roused  to  positive  fury.  He  should  never 
take  that  child  out  of  her  hands,  she  exclaimed; 
not  even  if  he  came  armed  with  all  the  powers  of 
the  law.  She  had  friends  in  high  places  still,  Dieu 
inerd!  and  she  would  stand  her  ground  against  any 
exhibition  of  civic  authority. 

Then  the  Earl  hinted  that  the  man  was  probably 
dead ;  whereat  she  crossed  herself,  and  murmured  a 
prayer  for  his  soul,  and  suffered  her  indignation  to 
subside. 

In  the  morning,  he  observed,  this  doubt  would  be 
set  at  rest,  when  they  should  hear  whether  a  corpse 
or  a  wounded  man  had  been  discovered  on  the  road, 
as  he  must  have  been  seen  by  those  who  went  to  the 
fire.  Until  then  they  could  hardly  decide  upon  the 
steps  which  it  would  be  desirable  to  take  in  order 
to  protect  Mrs.  Trevanian  and  Freda  from  further 
injury. 

The  Earl  returned  to  the  little  auberge  where  he 
had  left  his  valise,  and  sat  for  some  time  in  the  pub- 
lic room,  vainly  hoping  to  hear  some  tidings  of 


ELLEN    TREVANIAN' S    DEATH.  89 

Trevanian.  But  though  there  was  plenty  of  gossip 
about  the  burning  of  Mrs.  Trevanian's  house,  not 
one  word  was  uttered  concerning  a  dead  or  dying 
man  having  been  found  on  the  highway.  He  would 
have  gone  out  himself  to  investigate  the  matter,  but 
he  feared  to  excite  suspicion,  and  was,  besides,  still 
suffering  so  much  from  the  effects  of  suffocation, 
that  any  exertion  was  painful.  He  came  at  last  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  ruffian  had  been  only  slightly 
hurt,  and  had  gone  away. 

It  was  not  pleasant  to  reflect  that  Trevanian  might 
be  still  wandering  round,  intent  upon  working  out 
his  fiendish  designs  upon  that  helpless  woman  and 
lovely  child ;  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  there  was  a 
great  satisfaction  in  knowing  that  he  had  not,  even 
in  so  just  a  cause,  stained  his  hands  with  blood. 

The  Earl  probably  slept  all  the  better  for  the  be- 
lief that  Trevanian  was  still  alive,  though  he  could 
not  have  felt  any  addition  to  his  personal  security, 
should  so  unscrupulous  and  vindictive  a  man  recog- 
nize in  him  his  antagonist  of  the  previous  night. 
Such  thoughts,  however,  failed  to  disturb  him.  He 
slept  calmly,  and  went  early  in  the  morning  to  in- 
quire after  Mrs.  Trevanian  and  her  child. 

The  accounts  he  received  of  her  condition  were 
anything  but  satisfactory.  She  had  suffered  serious 
injuries  from  the  blow,  and  also  from  the  fall,  and 
the  good  sisters  were  in  great  distress  about  her,  for 
they  had  known  her  well  during  the  three  years  that 
she  had  lived  in  the  neighborhood,  and  to  know  her 
was  to  love  her.  They  were  greatly  exercised  con- 


90  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

earning  the  way  in  which  she  could  have  received 
such  hurts,  and  appealed  to  the  Earl  to  account  for 
them.  Still  anxious  to  hide  her  domestic  wrongs 
from  the  public  gaze,  as  well  as  to  keep  out  of  sight 
his-  own  share  in  redressing  them,  he  replied  by  a 
suggestion  that,  as  Freda  was  up-stairs,  her  mother 
might  have  tried  to  go  to  her,  but  fainted  and  fallen 
down  again.  He  had  found  her,  he  said,  at  the  foot 
of  the  stairs.  Immediately  an  imaginative  sister 
proceeded  to  demonstrate  exactly  how  she  must 
have  fallen,  so  that  her  chest  struck  full  upon  the 
end  of  the  banisters,  causing  that  dreadful  bruise 
as  large  as  a  man's  fist. 

"  I  wish  I  had  killed  him !  "  thought  the  Earl,  as 
he  followed  a  nun  to  the  parlor  of  the  Superior. 
"  The  cowardly  ruffian !  I  would  shoot  him  now 
without  compunction." 

The  kind  brow  of  the  Superior  was  troubled, 
though  she  received  him  graciously. 

"  I  see  by  your  face,"  she  said,  "  that  you  know 
how  much  worse  our  poor  friend  is.  Oh,  to  think 
that  a  man  could  strike  a  woman  such  a  blow  !  And 
she  his  own  wife,  too.  We  fear  that  her  breast  bone 
is  broken,  but  we  dare  not  examine  too  closely,  it 
causes  so  much  agony.  When  you  left  last  night, 
we  supposed  her  to  be  suffering  only  from  faintness 
and  the  effects  of  fright;  but  when  the  sisters  un- 
dressed her,  to  put  her  to  bed,  they  found  that  she 
was  severely  bruised  and  shaken.  Some  of  us  re- 
mained with  her  all  night." 

"  I  wish  I  had  killed  him ! "  groaned  the   Earl ; 


ELLEN    TREVANIAN'S    DEATH.  91 

"  but  I  fear  he  has  escaped.  I  have  heard  nothing 
of  him." 

"  I  have  heard  a  rumor  this  morning,"  she  said, 
"  of  a  man  having  been  found  dead  two  or  three 
miles  off." 

"  Where  ?  Tell  me  where,  and  I  will  go  and  see 
if  it  be  he  !  "  cried  the  Earl,  starting  up. 

"  Nay,  my  friend,  that  would  not  be  wise,"  said 
the  lady,  placing  her  soft  white  hand  upon  his  arm ; 
"  our  police  are  very  suspicious,  and  our  criminal 
laws  are  not  like  yours  in  England,  where  a  man  is 
held  to  be  innocent  until  he  is  proved  to  be  guilty. 
You  would  be  arrested  on  suspicion,  though  the 
body  were  that  of  a  man  whom  you  had  never  before 
seen,  and  you  would  be  detained  in  prison  until  you 
had  proved  satisfactorily  who  you  are,  and  what 
business  brought  you  into  this  neighborhood.  And 
I  assure  you,  it  is  often  very  difficult  to  convince 
our  country  prefects,  especially  if  they  have  formed 
an  idea  of  their  own  that  is  unfavorable  to  you. 
Remain  quite  still.  We  shall  know  all  that  there  is 
to  know  in  time,  if  we  have  patience.  And  make  no 
inquiries  that  may  draw  attention  on  yourself,  /can 
ask  what  I  please,  without  suspicion,  and  I  will  find 
out  all,  and  tell  you." 

"  Thank  you,  dear  lady,  thank  you,"  he  replied ; 
"  your  advice  is  wise  and  friendly.  And  poor  little 
Freda,  how  is  she  ?  " 

"  She  is  always  with  her  mother,  since  very  early 
this  morning.  She  is  a  most  lovely  child — so  gentle, 
so  tender,  so  thoughtful !  " 


92  WINIFREDS    JEWELS. 

"And  to  be  the  offspring  of  such  a  man  !  " 

"It  is  often  so  in  nature,  my  friend,"  said  the 
Superior ;  "  a  child  resembles  one  parent  much,  and 
the  other  not  at  all.  And  sometimes  a  child  will 
not  resemble  either,  and  we  can  but  wonder  where 
all  the  good,  or  all  the  bad,  ever  did  come  from." 

"Freda  is- like  her  mother,"  sighed  the  Earl;  "yet, 
I  think,  with  more  depth  of  feeling  and  strength  of 
character  than  poor  Ellen  ever  had." 

"  Do  you  wish  to  see  Mrs.  Trevanian?  "  asked  the 
Superior. 

"  It  is  better  that  she  should  not  see  me,"  he  re- 
plied, "  for  the  reasons  I  stated  to  you  last  evening. 
But,  should  her  injuries  prove  fatal,  it  may  comfort 
her  last  moments  to  know  that  her  child  will  not  be 
left  without  a  friend  who  is  able  and  willing  to  pro- 
tect her.  Therefore,  dear  lady,  I  will  await  the  re- 
sult, and- see  her,  if  at  all,  only  when  all  hope  is  past. 
May  I  be  permitted  to  ask  after  her  at  the  gate, 
twice  or  thrice  in  the  day?  " 

"  You  shall  always  come  in  and  speak  to  me,"  she 
said,  with  a  graceful  air  of  authority  that  was  almost 
coquettish  ;  "  or,  if  I  am  occupied,  I  will  say  so  with 
candor.  And  you  shall  come,  not  two  or  three 
times  to  ask  after  news  of  your  friend,  but  six, — but 
seven  times,  if  you  will." 

He  took  his  leave  with  the  deferential  courtesy^ 
which  her  dignified  deportment  commanded,  and  the 
Superior,  leaning  back  in  her  chair,  closed  her  eyes 
and  dreamed. 

"  Yes,  he  loved  her  once,"  so  ran  her  thoughts ; 


ELLEN    TREVANIAN'S    DEATH.  93 

"but  now  he. loves  her  no  more.  It  is  all  compas- 
sion. But  that  child — but  Freda — in  three  or  four 
years  she  will  be  a  woman.  He  is  still  a  young 
man, — not  much  past  thirty.  Oh,  quite  young  for 
a  man  !  And  he  sees  in  her  already  more  depth  of 
feeling  and  more  strength  of  character  than  ever  poor 
Ellen  had!  Ah,  my  good  friend  !  Our  sweet  Freda 
shall  be  a  Countess  yet." 

Is,  then,  match-making  so  inherent  in  womankind 
that  it  can  find  an  entrance  even  within  the  sacred 
shadow  of  the  cloister?  It  would  seem  so. 

The  Earl  paid  regular  visits  to  the  convent  during 
the  day,  but  heard  nothing  to  cheer  his  soul.  The 
poor  sufferer  seemed  to  be  sinking  slowly  yet  surely 
towards  the  grave. 

The  Superior  told  him,  late  in  the  day,  that  the 
rumor  she  had  mentioned  in  the  morning  had  been 
confirmed,  and  that  there  was  now  no  doubt  that  the 
body  of  a  man  had  been  found  nearly  six  miles  off; 
but  it  caused  no  sensation  in  the  village,  because  the 
people  were  so  pre- occupied  with  the  burning  of 
Mrs.  Trevanian's  house  and  her  present  precarious 
state,  that  they  had  not  a  thought  to  bestow  on  any- 
thing else. 

Another  day  was  drawing  to  a  close,  when  •  the 
Earl  rang  at  the  convent  gate  to  make  his  final 
inquiries  for  the  night.  Without  answering  him, 
the  weeping  portress  ushered  him  into  the  presence 
of  the  Superior. 

"  Is  she  dead  ?  "  was  his  first  question. 

"Not  yet  But  I  was  about  to  send  for  you.  Come!" 


94  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

And  that  was  his  Ellen,  the  first  love  of  his 
youth — so  pale  and  wasted,  with  the  awful  shadow 
of  Death  hanging  over  her. 

Her  eyes  brightened  with  a  momentary  lustre  as 
they  fell  upon  him. 

"  I  thought  you  would  come,"  she  whispered ;  "  I 
have  been  dreaming  of  you.  Freda!  My  child — 

"  I  will  take  care  of  her,  Ellen,"  he  said,  answer- 
ing her  look  of  wild  entreaty ;  "  let  your  mind  be 
quite  easy  on  her  account;  I  have  her  jewels  safe, 
too,  and  she  shall  have  them  when  she  is  twenty- 
one." 

A  bright  smile  spread  over  her  face  when  he  be- 
gan speaking,  and  when  he  ceased,  the  smile  was 
still  there,  though  the  spirit  had  fled. 

A  sad  scene  ensued  when  poor  Freda  was  at 
length  convinced  that  her  mother  was  no  more. 
The  Eacl,  after  many  attempts  to  lead  her  away, 
took  her  with  tender  force  out  of  the  room,  and 
carried  her  into  the  quiet  and  shady  garden.  Sitting 
there,  within  hearing  of  a  little  waterfall,  he  rocked 
her  gently,  and  suffered  her  to  weep  without  inter- 
ruption, till  worn  out  nature  claimed  her  dues,  and 
the  young  eyelids  closed  upon  the  child's  greatest, 
though,  alas !  not  her  first  sorrow. 

Wild  and  strange  were  the  day-dreams  that  filled 
the  brain  of  the  lonely  man  as  he  sat  there,  pillow- 
ing the  child's  feverish  cheek  upon  his  breast.  He 
saw  himself  in  the  far  Western  world,  tilling  the  soil 
that  was  to  yield  him  bread,  and  dwelling  in  the 
humble  log  cabin  that  his  own  hands  had  construe- 


ELLEN    TREVANIAN'S    DEATH.  95 

ted.  And  Freda  was  with  him  as  his  one  compan- 
ion ;  not,  as  the  good  Mother  Superior  had  pictured 
her,  as  the  wife  of  a  peer  of  England, — but  as  his 
child,  and  she  would  call  him  father.  But  when 
other  figures  began  to  come  upon  the  scene,  he 
shook  off  the  dream,  and  murmured  half  aloud,  "No, 
no !  It  must  not  be.  My  little  blossom  is  made  to 
adorn  society,  and  must  not  be  buried  in  an  anchor- 
ite's cell  to  gratify  my  selfish  love.  I  could  not 
bear  to  see  her  with  no  alternative  but  that  of  living 
a  lonely  unloved  life,  or  of  becoming  the  household 
drudge  of  some  illiterate  backwoodsman.  She  shall 
have  every  advantage  that  I  can  give  her ;  and  for 
her  sake  I  will  continue  for  a  few  years  more  to  be 
a  living  lie.  Young  Clarence  is  but  a  boy,  and  I  am 
a  faithful  steward." 


CHAPTER   IX. 

v, 

THE    MARRIAGE    CERTIFICATE. 

WORKMEN  from  London  were  busy  one  Saturday 
afternoon  under  the  Earl's  superintendence,  in  the 
little  village  church  at  Tytherleigh  ;  and  the  next  day 
the  church  going  part  of  the  population  were  amazed 
by  the  sight  of  a  simple  mural  tablet,  inscribed : 

"  To  the  memory  of  Ellen  Bracebridge,  widow  of 
Captain  Randolph  Trevanian,  late  of  the  — th  Indian 
Regiment."  Then  followed  the  names  and  dates 
which  told  of  her  birth  and  death. 

The  Earl  himself  was  present,  as  was  his  custom, 
and  all  that  the  most  curious  observer  could  discover 
in  his  manner  and  .appearance  which  might  afford  a 
theme  for  gossip  or  commentary,  was  the  total 
absence  of  change.  This  was  rather  puzzling,  espe- 
cially to  those  who  had  been  most  eager  in  ascribing 
his  retirement  from  the  world  wholly  to  blighted 
affection. 

The  solitary  man  was,  in  truth,  happier  than  he 
had  been  since  Ellen's  elopement.  Not  only  was  he 
able  to  clear  her  name  from  every  taint  of  slander, 
but  the  love  that  had  tormerited  him  so  long,  had 
passed  away  like  the  flame  of  a  lamp  that  has  no  oil. 
96 


THE    MARRIAGE     CERTIFICATE.  97 

It  had  not  been  killed  or  crushed  out  of  existence ; 
it  had  simply  ceased  to  be.  He  had  erected  that 
tablet  that  all  might  read  and  be  convinced,  and  he 
had  placed  her  marriage  certificate  in  the  clergy- 
man's hands,  that  all  who  wished  might  see  it.  He 
did  this  in  preference  to  talking  about  her,  which 
would  have  been  painful  to  his  shy,  proud  nature ; 
yet  he  was  too  much  accustomed  to  be  "the  observed 
of  all  observers  "  in  the  village  to  manifest  or  even  to 
feel  any  embarrassment,  though  he  knew  that  every 
eye  in  the  church  was  oscillating  like  a  pendulum 
from  the  tablet  to  him,  and  from  him  back  again  to 
the  tablet. 

There  was  only  one  stranger  present;  atall.broad- 
shouldered,-bearded  man,  who  had  looked  steadfastly 
at  the  Earl,  without  noticing  the  tablet,  until  the 
subdued  commotion  of  the  people  round  him,  the 
eager  eyes,  the  nudges,  the  half  audible  whispers, 
drew  his  attention  to  it.  As  he  read  the  inscription, 
a  pale  hue  suffused  his  face  under  the  bronzing  of 
the  tropical  sun.  He  bowed  his  head  upon  his  arm 
as  it  rested  on  the  top  of  the  pew,  and  after  a  few 
minutes  leaned  back  with  a  calm  unruffled  brow. 
No  one  remarked  his  movements,  so  absorbed  were 
all  in  the  new  wonder;  yet  in  that  brief  space  the 
convulsion  of  a  great  grief,  and  the  exultation  of  a 
great  joy  had  passed  simultaneously  through  that 
bowed  head. 

It  is  to  be  feared  that  no  one,  besides  the  Earl, 
profited  much  by  either  the  service  or  the  sermon. 

As  the  stranger  sauntered  back  to  the  inn  where 
7 


98  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

he  had  slept  the  night  before,  he  accosted  a  grave, 
respectable  looking  man,  who  overtook  him,  and 
requested  an  explanation  of  what  he  had  witnessed 
in  church.  The  man,  premising  that  he  was  the 
parish  clerk,  and  as  such  a  more  reliable  authority 
than  any  other  person  in  the  village,  proceeded,  noth- 
ing loth,  to  relate  all  that  he  knew  and  much  that  he 
surmised  of  Mrs.  Trevanian's  history. 

"  And  her  only  brother,"  he  continued ;  "  a  fine 
lad  of  twelve  or  thirteen,  took  her  disgrace  so  much 
to  heari  that  he  made  away  with  himself." 

"  What,  a  boy  of  that  age  commit  suicide ! "  said 
the  stranger,  incredulously. 

"  Indeed  he  did,  sir,"  asseverated  the  clerk ;  "there 
can't  be  a  doubt  but  what  he  drowned  himself, 
though  his  body  was  never  found,  for  there  had 
been  heavy  rains  and  the  river  was  much  swollen. 
It  stands  to  reason  now,  don't  it  ?  What  else  could 
have  become  of  him  ?  " 

"Very  true,"  acquiesced  the  accommodating  stran- 
ger. "  What  could  have  become  of  him  ?  " 

"That's  just  what  I  say,  sir,"  argued  the  clerk,  as 
if  some  new  light  had  been  thrown  on  the  question. 
"  He  must  -have  drowned  himself,  for  one  thing  is 
certain,  he's  never  come  back  here  no  more." 

"  That  is  indeed  conclusive  evidence,"  said  the 
stranger,  suppressing  a  smile. 

"  I  am  glad  to  have  been  able  to  give  you  this 
information,  sir,  as  you  are  a  stranger,"  said  the 
clerk  ;  "  but  I  must  wish  you  a  good  morning  now,  as 
I  have  to  call  in  at  the  rectory.  The  rector  he  told 


THE    MARRIAGE     CERTIFICATE.  99 

me  just  now  in  a  confidential  sort  of  a  way,  that  he 
had  the  poor  lady's  marriage  certificate  at  his  house, 
and  that  it  was  his  lordship's  wish  that  anybody 
should  see  it  that  liked.  And  he  requested  me  to 
make  it  known  among  the  congregation  in  an  infor- 
mal, promiscuous  kind  of  way ;  but  you  see,  sir,  I'm 
going  to  get  the  first  peep,  for  it  would  never  do  for 
a  man  holding  the  office  in  the  parish  that  I  do,  to 
let  any  one  else  be  beforehand  with  me  in  such  a 
case.  Now  would  it,  sir  ?  I  put  it  to  you  as  between 
man  and  man,  would  it  ?  " 

"  It  is  quite  superfluous  to  answer  such  a  ques- 
tion," replied  the  stranger,  with  a  ceremonious  bow, 
which  was  intended  to  express  his  sense  of  the  other's 
dignified  position.  "  If  you  have  no  objection  I 
should  very  much  like  to  accompany  you,  and  after- 
wards you  will  I  hope  do  me  the  favor  of  taking  a 
glass  of  ale  with  me  at  the  Tytherleigh  Arms,  where 
I  am  staying  for  a  day  or  two." 

"  By  all  means,  come  to  the  rectory  with  me,  I 
shall  be  happy  to  present  you,"  said  the  clerk,  pom- 
pously ;  "  but,  as  for  your  hospitable  offer,  my  dear 
sir,  a  man  in  my  position,  you  see,  is  obliged  to  be 
very  circumspect.  It  behooves  me  to  be  as  a  shin- 
ing light  to  the  common  people,  and  it  would  hardly 
look  creditable  for  me  to  be  seen  to  enter  a  house 
of  public  entertainment  on  the  Lord's  Day.  Our 
worthy  rector,  too,  is  very  strong  upon  the  tempe- 
rance question.  But  in  the  evening,  if  you  are  dis- 
engaged— " 

"  Oh,  yes — yes,"  said  the  stranger,  hardly  able 


loo  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

to  repress  a  laugh ;  "  in  the  evening,  by  all 
means." 

They  went  into  the  rectory,  and  the  certificate 
was  shown  to  them  by  the  stately  old  housekeeper, 
who  snubbed  the  clerk  unmercifully,  and  would  no 
doubt  have  treated  his  companion  quite  as  disdain- 
fully, had  he  given  her  the  opportunity.  But  he 
made  no  comment  as  he  read  the  document,  and  left 
the  house  without  having  uttered  a  word. 

"Just  the  same  sly  old  humbug  as  ever!"  said 
the  stranger  to  himself  as  he  watched  the  clerk 
ambling  away  with  his  chin  in  the  air.  "  Let  him 
come  to-night,  by  all  means !  I  shall  hear  all  the 
news  of  the  village,  and  then  I'll  go,  unknown  as  I 
came.  There  is  no  one  now  who  would  be  much 
rejoiced  to  see  me.  The  Earl  might,  perhaps ;  and 
yet  it  wbuld  give  him  more  pain  than  pleasure. 
What  a  different  lot  would  mine  have  been,  had  I 
suffered  the  Countess  to  carry  out  her  kind  inten- 
tions !  A  collegiate  education,  and  one  of  the  learned 
professions,  or  a  commission  in  the  army;  instead  of 
this  rough-and-tumble  existence !  Yet  this  wild  life 
has  its  fascination  for  me,  too,  and  is  perhaps  better 
suited  to  me  than  one  of  greater  refinement  and  luxury. 
If  I  had  known  the  truth,  I  should  have  remained, 
perhaps.  But  when  I  was  told  that  my  sister  had 
disgraced  herself,  why,  then — boy  as  I  was — I  could 
not  be  mean  enough  to  accept  her  adopted  mother's 
bounty.  Nor  could  I  bear  to  associate,  as  I  had 
been  used  to  do,  with  that  generous  Earl,  who 
treated  me  like  the  brother  he  was  so  fond  of  calling 


THE    MARRIAGE     CERTIFICATE. 


101 


me.  I  have  looked  my  last  upon  his  noble  face, 
and  shall  see  him  no  more  in  this  world.  Were  I 
to  make  myself  known  to  him,  it  would  only 
open  his  old  wounds  afresh.  There  is  a  load  upon 
his  mind  now.  Can  he  still  grieve  about  Ellen  ?  Or 
is  it  that  mysterious  something  that  his  dying  mother 
told  him  ?  That  I  shall  never  know,  so  I  need  not 
puzzle  my  wits  about  it." 

His  half-muttered  soliloquy  being  at  an  end,  Gil- 
bert Bracebridge  threw  off  his  melancholy  thoughts, 
and  strode  into  the  Tytherleigh  Arms. 


CHAPTER    X. 

AN    UNWELCOME  VISITOR. 

THE  week  after  the  tablet  was  placed  in  the  church, 
the  Earl  set  off  on  a  journey,  taking  with  him  three 
large  trunks,  in  addition  to  his  own  modest  valise. 
The  villagers,  who  wondered  at  every  thing,  had 
not  done  wondering  at  this,  when  one  who  had  been 
up  at  the  Hall  returned  with  the  news  that  the  suite 
of  rooms  which  had  been  locked  up  ever  since  Ellen 
Bracebridge  ran  away,  were  now  left  open  like  any 
other  part  of  the  house. 

Everybody  who  could  frame  an  excuse  for  paying 
a  visit  to  the  Hall  went  there  as  early  as  possible. 
Once  there,  they  naturally  begged  to  see  the  mys- 
terious apartments.  By  favor  of  one  or  other  of  the 
few  servants,  they  obtained  their  desire ;  looked, — 
saw  nothing, — and  came  away  satisfied. 

The  Earl,  meanwhile,  had  gone  to  London,  whence 
he  despatched  the  trunks  to  the  convent  where  Freda 
remained  at  school,  with  a  letter  to  the  Mother  Su- 
perior, in  which  he  requested  her  to  exercise  her 
own  discretion  as  to  the  application  of  the  contents 
to  the  use  of  his  little  ward.  They  had  belonged, 
he  said,  to  Mrs.  Trevanian,  and  his  mother  would 


AN    UNWELCOME     VISITOR.  103 

have  sent  them  to  her  long  ago,  had  she  known  her 
address.  In  a  postscript  he  added,  after  much  delibe- 
ration and  considerable  hesitation  how  best  to  word 
it,  that  she  would  find  some  articles  of  costly  lace, 
which,  he  begged  to  suggest,  had  better  be  converted 
into  money,  as  the  sight  of  them  would  only  excite 
in  Freda's  mind  curiosity  regarding  a  painful  subject 
that  had  best  be  forgotten. 

"  No— it  would  never  do  for  her  to  wear  it  when  she 
marries  him,"  said  the  amiable  Superior,  as  she  scru- 
tinized the  wedding  dress  with  the  eye  of  a  connois- 
seur ;  "  and  yet  it  is  a  pity  to  sell  it.  It  is  superb. 
Bah !  He  can  afford  to  buy  her  another  still  more 
exquisite." 

So  the  fate  of  the  wedding  dress  was  sealed,  and 
Freda  was  for  some  years  clothed  from  her  mother's 
wedding  outfit,  which  the  Earl  had  sent  to  her,  less 
from  motives  of  economy  than  because  he  regarded 
all  Ellen's  belongings  as  sacred  things  which  be- 
longed of  right  to  her  daughter.  The  jewels 
alone  he  retained,  and  added  to  those  in  the  little 
box. 

When  all  this  was  accomplished,  the  Earl  felt 
more  at  ease  than  he  had  done  for  many  a  long 
year ;  and  he  cultivated  his  farm  with  a  light  heart, 
inspirited  by  the  thought  that  he  was  working  for 
his  little  Freda. 

The  summer  and  autumn  had  passed  away, — his 
crops  were  harvested,  and  the  product  lay  before 
him  in  the  shape  of  a  little  pile  of  gold  and  a  roll  of 
crisp  bank  notes.  It  was  the  nest-egg  for  the  small 


104  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

fortune  which  he  intended  to  acquire  for  his  ward. 
Strange,  it  will  be  said,  that  he  should  act  thus,  in- 
stead of  giving  her  a  dowry  out  of  his  own  ample 
possessions.  It  was  strange, — but  such,  nevertheless, 
was  his  determination. 

The  night  without  was  dark  and  tempestuous.  The 
wind  howled  round  the  many  angles  of  the  ancient 
house,  aud  roared  down  the  spacious  chimney;  and 
if  a  distant  door  chanced  to  be  opened,  it  sent  a  shrill 
and  ghost-like  whistle  through  the  key-hole.  The 
rain  beat  against  the  windows,  and  the  large  trees 
groaned  and  shrieked  as  their  branches  were  ground 
harshly  against  each  other. 

Yet,  dismal  as  were  the  outside  surroundings, 
the  lonely  lord  of  the  domain  had  never  felt  more 
cheerful. 

The  wood-fire  blazed  on  the  wide  hearth  ;  and  as 
he  stretched  his  feet  towards  the  comfortable 
warmth,  he  built  many  a  pleasant  castle  in  the  air 
for  the  benefit  of  his  adopted  child,  Freda. 

The  opening  of  the  door  dispelled  his  reverie,  and 
the  old  gardener  (the  only  man-servant  he  retained 
in  the  house,  so  rigidly  had  he  curtailed  his  expen- 
diture) entered  to  announce  that  a  stranger,  who 
would  not  give  his  name,  wished  to  see  him  on  par- 
ticular business. 

"  A  stranger  on  such  a  night  as  this !  "  exclaimed 
the  Earl.  "  He  must  be  be  a  lunatic.  Show  him 
in,  Ralph." 

"  If  you  please,  my  Lord,"  said  Ralph,  "  I  don't 
like  the  looks  of  him  at  all.  Wont  you  please  to 


AN    UNWELCOME     VISITOR.  105 

put  that  out  of  sight  ? "  And  he  pointed  to  the 
money  on  the  table. 

The  Earl  smiled  as  he  swept  it  into  a  drawer,  say- 
ing, "  Now  you  can  show  him  in,  I  suppose." 

It  was  a  bright,  sweet,  heart-whole  smile,  and  old 
Ralph  often  spoke  of  it  in  after  times,  for  it  was  the 
last  he  ever  saw  on  his  beloved  master's  face. 

The  visitor  entered;  and  the  Earl  thought  that 
Ralph  had  good  grounds  for  mistrusting  him.  A 
more  forbidding  and  repulsive-looking  being  he  had 
never  beheld.  He  was  apparently  a  tall  man,  but  a 
twist  in  his  left  shoulder  gave  him  an  awkward 
stoop.  But  it  was  his  countenance  that  was  the 
most  revolting,  if  that  could  be  called  a  countenance 
where  scarcely  a  resemblance  to  humanity  existed. 
Either  from  disease,  or  accident,  or  natural  malfor- 
mation, there  was  not  a  feature  that  would,  singly, 
have  been  recognized  as  belonging  to  man.  The 
left  eye  was  covered  by  a  black  patch,  which  lay  so 
flat  that  it  seemed  the  eyeball  must  be  wanting.  Two 
orifices  gaped  where  there  should  have  been  a  nose. 
The  mouth  was  drawn  up  on  one  side  out  of  all 
shape,  and  showed  the  toothless  gums  within.  Even 
a  portion  of  the  lower  jaw  appeared  to  be  absent. 
The  left  side  of  his  head  was  bald,  and  the  skin  on 
that  part,  as  well  as  over  the  rest  of  his  face,  was 
scarred  and  puckered  till  it  looked  like  shrivelled 
parchment.  Only  the  right  eye  remained  intact, 
though  denuded  of  eyebrow  and  lash,  and  that 
gleamed  with  a  sinister  lustre. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  Earl  made  this 


106  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

accurate  analysis  at  first  sight.  A  single  glance 
showed  him  a  mass  of  loathsome  ugliness,  but  a 
delicate  regard  for  the  feelings  of  the  unfortunate 
being  before  him,  prevented  his  looking  at  him 
again,  until  the  turn  of  the  conversation  compelled 
him  to  do  so.  He  merely  bowed,  and  by  a  motion 
of  the  hand  invited  him  to  be  seated. 

"  My  Lord,"  began  the  stranger,  in  a  voice  that 
was  on  a  par  with  his  appearance,  though  he  strove 
hard  to  articulate  distinctly ;  "  I  cannot  hold  a  long 
conversation,  so  I  shall  come  to  the  purpose  of  my 
visit  as  briefly  as  possible.  I  am  a  soldier,  or  have 
been,  and  have  been  nearly  killed  by  a  shell.  You 
see  how  it  has  left  me.  I  was  a  friend  of  that  Cap- 
tain Trevanian  whom  you  murdered  near  St.  Malo, 
in  France.  I  was  coming  to  him  by  appointment 
when  I  found  him,  shot  through  the  lungs,  on  the 
road  near  his  home.  I  assisted  him  to  a  place  of 
safety,  and  watched  over  him  till  he  died.  He  be- 
queathed to  me,  as  I  can  prove  in  his  own  hand- 
writing, attested  by  the  Mayor  of  St.  Malo,  a  certain 
casket  of  jewels,  of  which  you  robbed  him  after  you 
had  shot  him  down.  You  see  I  am  a  plain,  blunt 
soldier,  and  go  straight  to  the  mark,  without  any 
humbug.  I  am  come  for  those  jewels,  and  you  must 
give  them  up  to  me  without  any  palavering." 

"  What  is  your  name,  sir?  "  demanded  the  Earl, 
calmly. 

"  I  don't  mean  to  tell  that,  at  present.  It  will 
come  out,  of  course,  if  you  are  tried  for  murder,  as 
it  seems  likely  you  will  be." 


AN    UNWELCOME-    VISITOR.  107 

"  I  did  not  commit  a  murder.  I  fired  in  self-de- 
fence, because  the  man  first  fired  at  me:" 

"  Come,  come,  that  wont  do.  You  threatened  to 
shoot  him  if  he  did  not  give  up  his  property  to  you. 
That  was  highway  robbery  to  begin  with." 

"  The  property  was  not  his — it  was  his  wife's,  and 
he  had  stolen  it  from  her,  and  set  her  house  on  fire 
into  the  bargain,"  said  the  Earl,  warming  in  the  dis- 
cussion. 

"  When  the  wife  died,  it  became  his  without  ques- 
tion, and  you  commit  a  felony  in  withholding  it  from 
the  party  to  whom  he  willed  it." 

"  I  do  not  understand  all  the  intricacies  of  the 
law,"  said  the  Earl,  "  but  I  will,  give  you  the  address 
of  my  solicitor,  and  you  can  communicate  with 
him." 

"  I  shall  not  take  your  solicitor's  address,"  replied 
the  man,  insolently.  "  If  you  drive  me  to  take  legal 
proceedings,  I  shall  appeal  to  the  laws  of  France, 
and  have  you  tried  for  the  murder  and  robbery  of 
my  friend,  Captain  Trevanian.  After  you  are  con- 
victed and  executed,  as  you  will  be,  for  I  was  a  wit- 
ness of  the  whole  affair,  though  I  was  not  in  time  to 
prevent  it — after  you  are  guillotined,  I  say,  it  will  be 
an  easy  matter  to  recover  my  property." 

"  They  are  Winifred's  jewels,"  cried  the  Earl,  pas- 
sionately, "  and  you  shall  not  have  them  !  " 

"Ha!  ha!"  gurgled  the  horrible  spectre,  with  a 
sepulchral  attempt  at  a  laugh  ;  "  we  are  getting  quite 
excited  !  Better  talk  coolly  and  rationally.  It's  a  seri- 
ous thing  to  be  tried  for  murder  in  France.  In  America, 


io8  WINIFREDS    JEWELS. 

now,  the  case  would  be  different  There  a  man  may 
shoot  down  his  friend  in  open  daylight,  and  if  he 
has  plenty  of  money,  he  may  get  off  with,  may  be, 
a  short  imprisonment.  But,  in  France,  you  are  not 
so  safe,  and  then  the  evidence  in  your  case  is  strong 
against  you.  However,  I'll  not  be  too  hard  upon 
you  at  first  I'll  appeal  to  little  Winifred,  and  tell 
her  all  about  it.  She  was  not  very  fond  of  her 
father,  I'm  afraid;  but  we  know  that  the  faults  of 
the  dead  are  always  forgotten  ;  and  I  don't  think  she 
will  grow  very  fond  of  the  man  who  murdered  him. 
However,  I  can't  help  that ;  and  when  she  knows 
the  rights  of  the  matter,  no  doubt  she  will  give  up 
the  jewels  to  their  rightful  owner." 

"  She  cannot,  for  they  are  not  in  her  possession." 

"  You  own,  then,  that  you  have  them  ?  "  said  the 
stranger,  casting  his  one  eye  sharply  round  the 
room,  as  if  in  search  of  an  iron  safe,  or  some  such 
receptacle. 

"  I  did  not  say  that,"  was  the  prompt  reply.  "  I 
merely  stated  that  they  are  not  in  her  keeping." 

"  It  does  not  much  matter  who  has  them,"  ob- 
served the  one-eyed  man,  carelessly.  "  The  law  will 
bring  them  to  light,  if  you  compel  me  to  resort  to 
it.  But,  on  my  honor  as  a  gentleman  and  a  sol- 
dier, I  have  no  wish  to  drive  you  to  extremities,  if 
you  will  only  be  reasonable.  If  you  wish  to  retain 
the  jewels  for  Winifred,  you  can  do  so  by  paying  me 
their  value  in  money.  I  should  but  convert  them 
into  money  if  I  had  them.  What  do  you  reckon 
they  are  worth  ?  " 


AN    UNWELCOME     VISITOR.  109 

"  I  am  not  a  jeweller,  sir,  nor  a  pawnbroker,"  re- 
plied the  Earl,  proudly. 

"  Don't  be  offended,  my  Lord,"  said  the  one-eyed 
man,  with  a  covert  sneer;  "but,  without  going  into 
that  question,  as  you  don't  seem  to  like  it,  what 
proposal  will  you  make  ?  " 

"  I  have  nothing  to  propose,"  was  the  curt  reply. 
"  I  only  know  this,  that  Winifred's  jewels,  which 
her  mother  died  to  save  (as  you  know  right  well,  if 
you  know  anything  about  the  affair,) — those  jewels, 
I  say,  you  shall  not  have  /" 

"  And  /  say  that  I  don't  want  them,  if  you  will 
enter  into  a  compromise." 

"What  sort  of  compromise  do  you  want?"  de- 
manded the  Earl,  fiercely. 

"  Nay,  now,  don't  get  angry,  my  Lord.  It's  not 
what  I  want,  but  what  I  propose  for  your  own  good. 
I  wont  even  ask  you  to  give  me  the  money  all  at 
once.  Pay  me  a  thousand  pounds  to-night,  and  I'll 
wait  for  the  remainder." 

"  I  have  not  got  it,"  was  the  moody  answer. 

"  Begging  your  Lordship's  pardon,  I  presume  you 
have  a  cheque  book." 

"  I  will  not  buy  you  off.  The  law  may  take  its 
course." 

"  And  when  it  has  taken  its  course — when  your 
Lordship  is  executed  (though  I  don't  want  your  blood, 
and  shall  try  hard  to  have  the  sentence  commuted 
to  the  galleys  for  life — even  that  will  be  hard  enough 
on  a  man  brought  up  like  your  Lordship,  and  it  will 
be  almost  worse  than  death  to  be  branded  with  the 


I  io  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

T.  F.  P.*  on  your  shoulder), — when  you  are  dis- 
posed of  by  the  law  in  one  way  or  the  other,  what 
will  become  of  Winifred  ?  Who  will  take  care  of 
her?" 

The  Earl  winced  at  this  implied  threat.  He  wanted 
time  to  reflect ;  he  wanted  to  be  rid  of  this  hideous 
being,  whose  presence  pressed  upon  his  soul  like  a 
nightmare ;  yes,  he  would  offer  a  compromise,  if 
only  to  gain  time,  and  so  be  able  to  look  the  danger 
fairly  in  the  face. 

"  I  will  not  give  you  a  cheque,"  he  said ;  "  but  I 
will  give  you  five  hundred  pounds  in  cash.  Will 
that  suit  you  ?  " 

"  Can  you  not  make  it  more  ?  "  asked  the  man, 
with  an  appearance  of  dissatisfaction,  though  his 
heart  leaped  with  joy  at  the  proposal. 

"  I  have  told  you  all  that  I  can  or  will  do.  It  is 
by  a  mere  chance  that  I  have  even  so  much  in  the 
house." 

"  I  must  be  contented  to  take  it  then,  I  suppose, 
and  the  sooner  the  better,  so  that  I  may  catch  the 
night  train." 

So  anxious  was  the  Earl  to  be  rid  of  his  hateful 
visitor,  that  he  did  not  need  this  prompting  to  open 
the  drawer  into  which  he  had  a  short  time  before 
laughingly  swept  the  nest-egg  of  Freda's  little  for- 
tune. It  amounted  to  nearly  the  sum  required.  He 
made  up  the  difference  from  his  purse,  and  pushed 
it  across  the  table  to  the  one-eyed  man,  whose  eager 

*   Travail*  Forces  d,  Perf4tuil6. 


AN    UNWELCOME     VISITOR.  in 

hands  closed  upon  it  like  the  talons  of  a  bird  of 
prey  clutching  its  victim.  The  Earl  then  observed, 
for  the  first  time,  that  three  of  the  fingers  of  his 
right  hand  were  gone,  and  that  only  the  fore-finger 
and  a  portion  of  the  thumb  did  duty  for  the  rest. 
The  maimed  hand  was  active  enough  in  taking  up 
the  money,  as  its  owner  counted  it  rapidly,  and  de- 
posited it  in  his  breast  pocket. 

Then,  rising  and  bowing  to  the  Earl,  he  said : 
"  My  name,  my  Lord,  is  Grainger — Captain  Grainger. 
You  see  I  have  modified  my  demand  very  con- 
siderably, in  order  to  accommodate  you,  and  have 
taken  only  half  of  what  I  had  a  right  to  expect. 
But  when  I  find  myself  again  in  need  of  a  little 
ready  money,  I  will  address  a  line  to  you  to  that 
effect,  and  I  have  little  doubt  that  your  good  sense 
will  point  out  to  you  the  expediency  of  attending  at 
once  to  my  moderate  requirements,  without  obliging 
me  either  to  trouble  your  Lordship  with  another 
visit,  or  to  have  recourse  to  the  arm  of  French 
criminal  law  to  enforce  my  claims.  I  have  the  honor 
to  wish  your  Lordship  a  very  good  evening." 

Saying  this  with  an  undisguised  sneer,  he  bowed 
low,  with  mock  ceremony,  and  withdrew. 

The  Earl  paid  no  attention  to  his  salutation,  but 
sat  gazing  moodily  into  the  decaying  embers  of 
the  fire,  which,  before  the  coming  of  that  ill- 
om&ned  beast  of  prey,  had  blazed  for  him  so  cheer- 
fully. 

Old  Ralph  brought  in  more  logs  to  replenish  it, 
and  while  busily  arranging  them,  he  said  : 


112  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  I  sat  in  the  hall,  my  Lord,  till  that — a — gentle- 
man came  out ;  seeing  he  was  a  stranger,  and —  " 

"  And  you,  not  liking  the  looks  of  him,  Ralph, 
(which  showed  your  good  sense,)  determined  to 
see  him  safe  out  of  the  house.  I'm  glad  you  did. 
It  would  not  be  pleasant  to  see  such  a  face  as  that 
staring  between  one's  bed-curtains,  would  it,  Ralph  ?  " 

"  Oh,  dear !  my  Lord,  you  make  my  flesh  creep 
only  to  think  of  it !  "  said  Ralph,  shuddering. 

"  Then  go  to  bed,  old  friend,  and  don't  think  of 
it.  The  man  has  been  a  soldier/ he  tells  me,  and 
was  nearly  killed  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell.  It 
would  have  been  well  had  he  been  killed  outright/' 
he  added,  with  a  deep  sigh.  "  Good  night,  Ralph." 

"  Good  night,  my  Lord,"  said  the  old  man,  long- 
ing to  do  or  say  something  to  solace  his  master,  but 
not  knowing  how. 

Left  to  himself,  the  Earl  took  down  Les  Miserable s, 
and  was  soon,  in  imagination,  as  hopelessly  entan- 
gled in  the  meshes  of  French  criminal  law  as  the 
hero  of  Victor  Hugo's  wondrously  pathetic  romance. 


CHAPTER    XL 

FREDDIE   AGAIN    AT   SCHOOL. 

I  HOPE  my  readers  are  sufficiently  interested  in 
Freddie's  fate  to  make  them  desire  to  hear  more 
about  her. 

She  has  been  for  two  years  in  the  school  where 
Mr.  Mason  placed  her  after  Mr.  Powell's  death,  the 
first  year  as  a  pupil,  and  the  latter  as  an  assistant 
teacher,  though  still  taking  lessons  in  music,  French, 
Italian,  and  German.  In  outward  appearance,  she  is 
a  highly-polished  and  decorous  young  lady;  but  in 
her  heart  she  often  longs  for  the  excitement,  the  fun 
and  frolic,  the  daring  feats  and  tumultuous  applause 
of  the  arena.  For,  poor  girl,  her  wonderful  strength, 
though  but  little  exercised  at  odd  moments  when 
alone  and  unseen,  has  increased  instead  of  diminish- 
ing, and  her  abounding  energy  would  be  a  torment 
to  her,  but  that  she  had  discovered  that  she  pos- 
sessed a  great  fondness  for  gardening,  and  had  ob- 
tained permission  to  rise  as  early  as  she  liked  and 
amuse  herself  for  an  hour  or  so  among  the  flowers. 
From  flowers  she  quickly  got  to  fruit  and  vegetables, 
which  afforded  more  scope  for  muscular  exertion. 
Then  the  gardener  going  away,  much  to  hersatisfac- 
8  113 


114  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

tion,  she  contrived  to  defer  the  engagement  of  a 
successor  until  she  convinced  Mrs.  Templeman  that 
she  could  do  all  the  work  herself,  and  that  the  exer- 
cise was  very  beneficial,  nay,  absolutely  necessary, 
to  her  health. 

Mrs.  Templeman  was  a  widow,  with  an  only  son, 
who  was  seldom  seen  in  his  mother's  house.  She 
was  a  highly  educated  and  noble-hearted  woman,  in 
every  respect  fitted  for  the  important  work  she  had 
undertaken  ;  but  her  energies  were  crippled,  and  her 
spirit  bowed  down  by  the  greatest  sorrow  that  a 
mother's  heart  can  know, — the-  utter  worth lessness 
and  profligacy  of  her  son. 

Freddie  had,  from  the  first,  attached  herself 
strongly  to  Mrs.  Templeman,  and  with  the  keen  in- 
sight which  affection  gives,  she  had  discovered  that 
she  was  unhappy;  but  the  cause  of  this  unhappiness 
was  only  revealed  to  her  when  she  had  been  a  whole 
year  in  the  school. 

It  was  during  the  Christmas  vacation,  and  Ernest 
Templeman  was  on  a  visit  to  his  mother.  Freddie 
had  never  been  accustomed  to  the  society  of  young 
men,  and  therefore  had  no  means  of  contrasting  his 
conduct  with  that  of  others ;  but  she  had  read  many 
novels,  and  Ernest  Templeman  fell  so  far  short  of  her 
ideal  standard, — based  chiefly  on  the  model  of 
Scott's  heroes, — that  she  at  first  disliked,  and  after- 
wards utterly  despised  and  detested  him.  He  pro- 
fessed to  admire  her  exceedingly.  Perhaps  he  did  ; 
but  his  mode  of  expressing  it  was  by  a  mixture  of 
coarse  adulation  and  insolent  familiarity  which  ex- 


FREDDIE    AGAIN    AT    SCHOOL.  115 

cited  her  unmitigated  disgust.  It  was  a  great  satis- 
faction to  reflect  that,  having  learned  the  "  noble  art 
of  self  defence  "  while  with  the  circus,  she  had  it  in 
her  power  to  knock  him  down,  should  he  carry  his 
audacity  too  far ;  and  sometimes  it  was  out  of  con- 
sideration for  his  mother's  feelings  alone  that  she 
refrained  from  chastising  him.  But  she  determined 
to  bear  with  much  before  she  would  add  a  feather's 
weight  more  of  sorrow  to  the  burthen  of  that  suffer- 
ing mother's  soul ;  so  she  treated  him  with  the  most 
chilling  reserve  when  compelled  to  be  in  his  com- 
pany, and  at  all  times  systematically  avoided  him. 

It  was  not  alone  his  behavior  towards  herself 
that  excited  her  disgust.  He  treated  his  mother 
with  the  grossest  disrespect,  and  never  manifested 
even  the  remotest  show  of  affection  for  her,  unless 
with  the  object  of  obtaining  money. 

His  stay  was,  fortunately,  not.  a  long  one ;  though 
it  had  already  been  too  long  for  one  poor  creature's 
good. 

During  the  following  summer,  a  pretty,  though 
vain  and  empty-headed  servant  girl,  was  dismissed 
in  disgrace,  and  Freddie  gathered,  from  half  sen- 
tences dropped  here  and  there,  and  from  poor  Mrs. 
Templeman's  agony,  that  Ernest  Templeman — the 
man  who  had  dared  to  profess  admiration  for  her  — 
was  the  author  of  this  wretched  simpleton's  ruin. 
The  girl  disappeared.  She  dared  not  return  to  her 
father's  house;  and  it  came  out  that  she  had  crone  to 

7  O 

London,  probably  to  seek  aid  and  protection  from 
him  whom  she  supposed  to  be  her  lover. 


Il6  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

Freddie's  delicate  and  unobtrusive  tenderness 
during  this  trying  period  won  greatly  upon  Mrs. 
Templeman's  affections,  arid  she  loved  her  better 
than  any  one  except  her  own  worthless  son,  while 
she  trusted  her  infinitely  more. 

The  Christmas  holidays  had  again  come  round. 
The  pupils  had  returned  to  their  homes,  and  Freddie, 
having  refused  invitations  from  two  of  her  favorite 
schoolmates,  that  she  might  help  Mrs.  Templeman 
with  the  house  cleaning  and  other  work  preparatory 
to  their  return,  remained  at  Ashford  House. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  how  thankful  I  am  that  you 
are  here,  my  dear  Winifred,"  said  Mrs.  Templeman, 
as  they  sat  at  breakfast  a  few  mornings  after  the 
house  was  cleared  of  its  lively  young  inmates.  The 
postman  had  just  delivered  the  mail,  and  she  held 
an  open  letter  in  her  hand.  "  I  must  go  to  London 
immediately.  Mr.  Mason  writes  that  he  wishes  to 
place  a  young  lady  under  my  care,  and  that  it  will 
be  necessary  for  me  to  fetch  her  from  town  myself, 
and  without  any  unnecessary  delay." 

"What  now?"  exclaimed  Freddie  in  amazement; 
"just  at  the  commencement  of  the  holidays  !  How 
exceedingly  singular !  " 

"  There  are  peculiar  circumstances,  he  says,  which 
he  will  explain  to  me,  but  which  he  cannot  very  well 
state  in  a  letter,"  said  the  elder  lady;  "so,  of  course, 
I  must  go ;  and  there  is  other  business  that  I  can 
settle  at  the  same  time.  Besides,"  she  added,  with  a 
sigh,  "  I  can  see  what  my  naughty  boy  is  about.  He 
has  not  written  to  me  for  several  months." 


FREDDIE    AGAIN    AT    SCHOOL.  117 

As  Freddie  could  find  nothing  pleasant  or  com- 
forting to  say  on  this  subject,  she  continued  eating 
her  breakfast  in  silence. 

"  It  is  such  a  satisfaction  to  me  to  leave  the  house 
in  your  charge,"  continued  Mrs.  Templeman,  "  that 
I  really  must  express  my  gratitude  to  you,  my  dear, 
for  staying  with  me,  instead  of  going  on  a  visit  to 
your  friends." 

"  Gratitude  to  me  !  Oh,  Mrs.  Templeman  !  "  cried 
Freddie,  blushing  deeply,  "  don't  talk  of  gratitude  to 
me.  What  do  I  not  owe  to  your  kindness  ?  " 

"  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty  by  you,  Wini- 
fred, that  is  all." 

"  Then  give  me  credit  for  trying  to  do  my  duty, 
too,"  said  the  girl,  as,  kneeling  by  Mrs.  Templeman's 
side,  she  put  her  arms  round  her  waist,  and  leaned 
her  head  lovingly  on  her  shoulder.  It  was  not  often 
that  the  widow  bestowed  a  caress  or  mark  of  endear- 
ment upon  any  of  her  scholars ;  not  from  want  of 
affection,  but  because  all  her  power  of  loving  was 
squandered  and  thrown  away  upon  an  unworthy 
object,  who  received  it  with  so  much  contempt  that, 
quite  unconsciously  to  herself,  she  felt  that  the  poor 
fragments  of  what  he  spurned  were  not  worth  offer- 
ing to  any  one  else. 

Freddie's  action  re-assured  her.  Half  timidly  she 
passed  her  thin  hand  over  the  clustering  brown  curls, 
and  her  mild  eyes  were  suffused  with  moisture. 

"  So  let  it  be,  then,  my  love,"  she  said ;  "  and  after  all, 
duty  is  the  highest  motive  that  can  govern  our  actions. 
Now,  before  I  go,  I  will  consult  you  about  a  plan 


n8  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

that  I  have  been  turning  over  in  my  mind  for  some 
weeks  ;  in  fact,  ever  since  Miss  Hetley  told  me  she 
could  not  come  back  after  Christmas.  You  are  so 
far  advanced  that  there  is  no  necessity  for  you  to 
continue  any  studies  but  music  and  the  languages. 
What  say  you  to  taking  Miss  Hetley 's  place  as  junior 
teacher,  and  receiving  instruction  in  those  higher 
branches  in  lieu  of  remuneration  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  shall  be  delighted  !  "  exclaimed  Freddie, 
tightening  her  arms  rather  forcibly  to  express  her 
pleasure. 

"  Oh,  my  child !  Don't  squeeze  me  to  death ! 
Why,  Winifred,  how  strong  you  are ! "  cried  Mrs. 
Templeman,  in  amazement. 

"  I  suppose  it  must  be  the  gardening,"  said 
Freddie,  very  much  abashed ;  "  but  indeed  I  cannot 
help  it." 

"  You  are  a  dear,  impulsive  creature,"  said  Mrs. 
Templeman,  kissing  her  on  the  forehead,  "  and  if  all 
that  strength  is  a  sign  of  health,  I  am  very  glad  you 
possess  it.  Only  you  must  have  a  little  mercy  on 
such  poor  weak  mortals  as  myself.  I  do  not  wish 
you  to  decide  too  hastily  on  what  I  have  proposed, 
Winifred.  Take  a  little  time  to  consider  the  ques- 
tion, and  tell  me  before  I  go,  so  that  I  may  engage 
some  one  else,  in  case  you  change  your  mind 
about  it." 

"  There's  no  fear  of  that,  dear  Mrs.  Temple- 
man," rejoined  Freddie,  with  a  merry  laugh;  "it  is 
too  good  an  offer  to  be  declined.  When  shall 
you  go?" 


FREDDIE    AGAIN    AT    SCHOOL.  119 

"  I  cannot  arrange  to  go  before  the  afternoon 
train,  so  I  shall  not  reach  London  till  late  in  the 
evening." 

Freddie  assisted  in  her  preparations,  and.  took 
heed  of  all  her  directions  as  to  what  was  to  be  done 
during  her  few  days'  absence.  She  was  in  the  mid.st 
of  packing  Mrs.  Templeman's  carpet-bag,  when  she 
suddenly  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  Mrs.  Templeman  !  What 
have  you  done  with  all  that  money  that  you  had  a 
few  days  ago  ?  " 

"  It  is  safe  in  my  desk,  my  love." 

"  Oh,  no  ;  it  is  not  at  all  safe  there !  "  replied 
Freddie.  "  Surely  you  wont  go  away  and  leave  me 
with  such  a  sum  in  the  house !  I  am  sure  it  is  not 
safe.  Let  me  take  it  to  Chester  this  afternoon,  and 
put  it  in  the  bank." 

"  It  is  too  late,  love.  The  train  to  Chester  is  just 
gone." 

"  But  I  can  walk ;  it  is  only  three  miles." 

"  Why,  you  silly  child  !  There  would  be  much 
more  danger  in  carrying  it  on  foot  than  in  keeping 
it  in  the  house." 

"  Not  in  broad  daylight.  No  one  should  take  it 
from  me  !  Remember  how  strong  I  am,"  said  Fred- 
die, with  a  little  boastful  laugh.  "  Pray,  dear  Mrs. 
Templeman,  let  me  take  it.  I  shall  be  miserable  if 
you  leave  it  here." 

"  And  /  shall  be  miserable  to  think  you  may  have 
been  robbed  and  murdered  on  your  way." 

"  Then  put  off  your  journey  till  to-morrow,  dear 
madam.  A  few  hours  cannot  make  much  difference. 


120  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

You  will  see  Mr.  Mason  in  the  afternoon,  instead  of 
the  morning,  that's  all." 

"  I  shall  want  most  of  that  money  to  pay  my 
bills,  as  soon  as  I  return,"  said  Mrs.  Templeman, 
dubiously;  "  it  is  hardly  worth  while  to  put  it  in  the 
bank  for  so  short  a  time." 

"  Can  you  not  pay  them  just  as  well  with  cheques  ?  " 
said  Freddie ;  and  a  look  of  such  real  disquietude 
settled  on  her  young  brow  that  Mrs.  Templeman 
gave  in,  and  immediately  after  an  early  dinner  Fred- 
die started  off  in  high  spirits,  with  the  greater  part 
of  the  last  half  year's  school  money  concealed  in  her 
bosom,  and  her  own  light  purse  in  her  pocket,  to 
delude  a  possible  highway  robber. 

A  brisk  walk  brought  her  to  the  fine  old  city  of 
Chester  in  less  than  an  hour.  Her  business  was 
soon  transacted,  and,  disregarding  Mrs.  Templeman's 
advice  to  wait  another  half  hour  and  return  by  rail, 
she  set  off  to  walk  home  again. 

This  exhilarating  walk  in  a  high  wind  was  too 
great  a  pleasure  for  her  to  forego  for  the  sake  of 
being  shut  up  in  a  stuffy  railway  carriage. 

The  latter  half  of  her  way  homeward  lay  over  a 
wild,  furze-covered  common,  ending  in  a  narrow  lane 
about  half  a  mile  in  length. 

As  she  entered  on  the  common  she  did  not  ob- 
serve that  a  tall  man,  who  was  standing  behind  a 
gorse  bush,  about  to  fire  at  a  covey  of  partridges, 
looked  hard  at  her,  and  then,  granting  a  respite  to 
the  game,  threw  his  gun  over  his  shoulder,  turned 
into  the  path,  and  followed  her  at  a  short  distance. 


FREDDIE    AGAIN    AT    SCHOOL.  121 

• 

The  noise  of  the  wind  drowned  the  sound  of  his 
footsteps,  and  Freddie  walked  on,  pleasantly  occu- 
pied with  her  own  thoughts,  and  totally  unconscious 
of  the  colossal  specimen  of  humanity  who  was 
marching  behind  her,  and  who  had  to  step  out 
pretty  briskly,  too,  in  order  to  keep  up  with  her. 

As  she  reflected  with  thankfulness  that  Mrs.  Tem- 
pleman's  hard-earned  money  was  now  safe  from  the 
rapacious  attempts  of  her  unprincipled  son  (for  by 
one  of  those  mysterious  intuitions  which  sometimes 
warn  us  of  impending  evil,  she  felt  sure  that  he 
would  attempt  to  rob  his  mother's  house  as  soon  as 
he  knew  she  was  in  town),  she  little  suspected  that 
a  pair  of  eyes  were  admiringly  watching  her  firm, 
elastic  steps,  and  the  easy  poise  of  her  tall,  symmetri- 
cal figure. 

Ere  the  common  was  quite  crossed,  some  sharp 
points  of  sleet,  mingled  with  rain,  began  to  fall ;  but 
Freddie  was  not  to  be  terrified  into  a  run  by  such  a 
trifle.  She  was  just  reckoning  what  she  would  do 
with  her  new  accession  of  wealth,  for,  of  course,  if 
she  worked  for  her  lessons,  she  would  have  her  little 
income  to  spend  as  she  liked — Mrs.  Templeman  had 
assured  her  of  that.  She  would  make  presents  to 
several  of  the  girls  who  had  been  kind  to  her — she 
would  buy  several  books  that  she  had  long  wanted — 
she  would  head  a  subscription  to  buy  a  gold  watch 
for  the  drawing-mistress,  whom  the  girls  suspected 
of  being  very  poor.  In  fact,  if  she  did  all  that  she 
wished  to  do,  every  pound  she  received  would  have 
to  be  spent  twice  over.  It  is  an  error  not  always 


122  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

confined  to  the  very  youthful,  that  of  spending  ten 
pounds  out  of  five.  And  Freddie  was  enjoying  the 
full  excitement  of  this  agreeable  process,  and  did 
not  care  for  rain  or  sleet. 

Near  the  entrance  to  the  lane  before  mentioned,  a 
high  bank  of  earth,  slightly  hollowed  out,  afforded  a 
partial  shelter.  A  rustic  seat  was  placed  in  the  re- 
cess, and  the  branches  of  a  spreading  oak,  that  grew 
on  the  top  of  the  bank,  extended  over  it.  In  the 
summer,  when  these  branches  were  clothed  with  foli- 
age, it  offered  a  very  agreeable  refuge  from  a  shower; 
but  Freddie  was  shocked  to  see  that  the  seat  was 
occupied,  on  this  cold  winter's  day,  by  a  miserable, 
thinly-clad  woman,  whom  she  remembered  to  have 
passed  on  the  other  side  of  the  common,  on  her  way 
into  Chester. 

It  was  not  in  Freddie's  nature  to  "  pass  by  on  the 
other  side,"  and  leave  such  an  object  to  her  fate. 

"  Why  do  you  sit  here  ? "  she  asked,  kindly. 
"  You  will  be  frozen  to  death." 

"  It  don't  much  matter  if  I  am,"  replied  the  woman, 
in  a  hollow  voice,  that  was  broken  by  a  cough.  "  I'd 
be  glad  of  it,  if  only  my  baby  was  safe." 

"  Can't  you  walk  ?  "  asked  Freddie.  "  Are  you 
tired,  or  sick  ?  " 

"  Both,  miss.  I'm  near  dying  of  consumption, 
and  I've  walked  till  I  can  walk  no  farther." 

Freddie  unfastened  her  warm  cloak  and  wrapped 
it  round  the  shivering  woman. 

"  Come,  now,"  she  said,  in  a  cheering  tone,  "  try 
once  more.  Give  me  your  baby,  and  lean  on  my 


FREDDIE    AGAIN    AT    SCHOOL.  123 

arm.  It  is  not  very  far  to  the  village.  Take  courage, 
and  you  will  soon  be  there,  and  have  warmth,  and 
food,  and  rest,  and  then  you'll  not  talk  any  more 
about  dying." 

"Don't  put  your  cloak  round  me,"  screamed  the 
woman,  trying  to  push  it  off.  Then,  raising  her  pale 
and  haggard  face,  she  exclaimed  :  "  Oh,  Miss  Wini- 
fred !  Don't  you  know  me  ?  " 

"Is  it  possible?"  said  Freddie,  scrutinizing  her 
features  with  eyes  full  of  pity  and  astonishment. 
"  Can  you  be  Kitty  Reeves  ?  " 

"  That  I  am,  miss  ;  so  please  take  your  cloak  off 
me.  You  don't  want  to  put  it  on  such  as  me." 

"What  nonsense  are  you  talking?"  demanded 
Freddie,  sharply.  "  You're  a  woman,  aren't  you  ? 
And  a  mother,  aren't  you  ?  " 

"  That  I  am,  more  shame  for  me  !  " 

"  And  you're  sick,  and  cold,  and  perhaps  starving ; 
and  what  am  I  then?  A  brute,  do  you  think,  that 
I'd  leave  you  here  ?  Kitty,  I  always  thought  you  a 
foolish,  vain  girl ;  but  I  should  be  something  a  great 
deal  worse  if  I  could  leave  you  here  to  die,  because 
a  villain,  a  scoundrel,  took  advantage  of  your  folly. 
So  wrap  the  cloak  about  you,  and  come  along." 

"  But,  Miss  Winifred,  you  don't  know  how  wicked 
I  have  been,  or  you  would  not  "speak  to  me.  He 
cast  me  off,  and  would  not  help  me,  and  I  was  forced 
to—" 

"  Now,  stop  !  "  interrupted  Freddie,  in  a  peremp- 
tory tone.  "  You  are  a  suffering  woman,  and  that's 
all  I  care  to  know  about  you.  Whatever  wrong 


124  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

you  may  have  done  rests  between  your  conscience 
and  your  God.  I  would  rather  not  hear  anything 
about  it." 

She  took  the  baby  from  its  mother's  arms, 
wrapped  it  snugly  in  the  folds  of  her  dress,  and  then 
helped  Kitty  to  rise  to  her  feet ;  but  finding  that  she 
was  really  unable  to  walk,  Freddie  passed  her  strong 
right  arm  round  the  poor  creature's  waist,  and  half 
led,  half  carried  her  towards  home. 

"You'll  tire  yourself  to  death,  Miss  Winifred," 
said  Kitty,  "and  you'll  catch  cold  without  your 
cloak.  Only  see  how  the  rain  is  coming  down ! 
Better  leave  me  here  to  die.  If  you'll  only  take  my 
poor  baby  to  mother,  I  don't  think  she'll  have  the 
heart  to  turn  it  away." 

"  I'm  going  to  take  you  along,  Kitty,  so  you  need 
talk  no  more  about  it  And  don't  be  uneasy  about 
me,  either.  Have  you  not  heard  that  God  tempers 
the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb  ?  " 


CHAPTER   XII. 

OUT   IN   A   STORM. 

FREDDIE  had  not  gone  many  paces  with  her 
double  burthen,  for  she  almost  carried  the  poor 
young  woman  who  was  half  paralysed  with  the  cold, 
when  her  progress  was  arrested  by  a  muscular  brown 
hand  and  a  deep-toned  voice  that  said,  with  quiet 
authority,  "  I'll  carry  her." 

She  looked  up  and  saw  a  remarkably  tall,  broad- 
shouldered  man,  of  about  thirty  years  of  age.  His 
complexion  was  bronzed  by  the  sun  and  weather, 
and  his  long  beard,  tossed  by  the  wind,  gave  him  a 
wild  and  somewhat  ferocious  aspect.  But  his  brown 
eyes  were  calm  and  kind,  and  his  voice  had  that 
genuine  ring  that  inspires  immediate  confidence. 

Freddie  took  this  in  at  a  single  glance,  and  drew 
these  favorable  deductions  afterwards.  At  the  first 
moment,  her  impulse  was  to  drop  her  burthen  and 
run  away  from  him  as  fast  as  her  feet  could  carry 
her.  She  checked  this  feeling,  however,  and  suffered 
him  to  take  Kitty  from  her. 

"  Will  you  hold  this  a  moment  ?  "  he  said,  giving 
her  his  gun,  "  or  are  you  afraid  ?  " 

Without  deigning  to  reply,  she  took  it,  and  placing 

125 


126  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

it  on  her  arm  like  a  sportsman,  muzzle  downwards, 
she  walked  onwards. 

As  he  overtook  her,  she  observed,  with  a  feeling 
of  admiration,  that  he  carried  Kitty  with  as  much 
ease  as  she  did  the  baby. 

"  Give  me  the  gun,"  he  said,  "  I  can  hold  it  easily 
here,"  and  letting  his  burthen  rest  on  his  arm,  he  ex- 
panded his  hand  to  receive  it.  "  It  is  too  heavy  for  you." 

"  I  do  not  find  it  heavy,"  was  her  brief  reply. 

"  You  seem  used  to  carrying  a  gun,"  he  remarked. 

"  I  have  been  used  to  do  many  things,"  was  her 
curt  response. 

Now  Freddie  wished  him  to  talk  to  her;  she  liked 
him  for  his  kindness  to  poor  Kitty ;  she  admired  his 
magnificent  figure  and  handsome  sun-burnt  face ; 
yet,  for  her  life,  she  could  not  bring  herself  to  speak 
civilly  to  him,  nor  try  to  appear  other  than  sulky 
and  unamiable. 

The  stranger,  in  whom  my  readers  have  probably 
recognized  Gilbert  Bracebridge,  remained  silent  for 
some  time ;  and  Freddie  felt  so  angry  with  herself 
for  her'rudeness  that  the  tears  forced  themselves 
into  her  eyes.  She  had  offended  him,  and  he  would 
not  speak  to  her  again.  Of  course  he  would  not, 
only  to  be  snubbed  by  such  a  young  upstart  as  she 
was  !  What  could  have  possessed  her  ?  ^  Such  was 
the  tenor  of  her  reflections. 

"This  storm  is  pretty  severe,"  he  said,  almost 
shouting  to  make  himself  heard,  but  otherwise 
speaking  in  quite  a  friendly  tone;  "but  we  have 
much  more  severe  ones  sometimes  in  America." 


OUT    IN    A     STORM,  127 

"Are  you  an  American?"  asked  Freddie,  eagerly. 

"No,"  he  replied;  "  but  I  have  lived  several  years 
in  the  western  world." 

The  chief  wish  of  Freddie's  heart  had  long  been 
to  obtain  some  reliable  information  about  America, 
and  here  was  an  opportunity,  if  she  could  only 
take  advantage  of  it.  But  what  would  he  think 
of  her  if  she  began  talking  prettily  to  serve  her  own 
purpose,  when  she  had  not  had  a  civil  word  for  him 
before  ? 

He  helped  her  out  of  the  difficulty  in  the  most 
natural  manner  possible. 

"  Have  you  any  friends  out  there  ?  "  he  asked. 
*  "  No,"  she  answered,  rather   sadly,  "  I  have  no 
friends  anywhere.     No  relations,  I  mean." 

"  Have  you  ever  thought  of  going  to  America?  " 

He  seemed  determined  not  to  let  the  conversation 
drop,  now  that  it  was  fairly  started. 

"  I  have  wished  to  learn  something  about  it,  dif- 
ferent from  what  one  gets  out  of  books  and  news- 
papers," she  replied ;  "  would  you  be  so  kind  as  to 
let  me  ask  you  a  few  questions  ?  "  •• 

"The  more 'the  better,"  said  he,  so  heartily  that 
she  could  not  doubt  his  sincerity,  "and  I  will  answer 
them  to  the  best  of  my  ability." 

"  Is  it  a  good  place  for  a  woman  to  go  to  ?  " 

"  That  is  rather  a  comprehensive  inquiry,"  he  re- 
plied, with  a  smile,  "and  I  fear  my  answer  must 
be  somewhat  vague  in  consequence.  Women  hold 
a  better  position  in  America  than  in  any  other 
country  that  I  know  of.  They  have  not  all  that 


128  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

they  want,  it  is  true ;  but  they  are  working  hard 
for  their  rights,  and  will  get  them.  Their  very  dis- 
content with  the  present  state  of  things  is  a  proof 
that  their  position  is  in  advance  of  that  of  the  more 
tranquil  women  of  other  lands,  since  cheerful  sub- 
mission is  the  worst  symptom  of  slavery.  Therefore 
I  say  that  America  is  a  good  place  for  a  woman  to 
be  in.  And  now  if  you  will  tell  me  what  the  woman 
you  speak  of  is  capable  of  doing,  I  may  be  able  to 
answer  you  more  satisfactorily." 

"  She  can  do  a  good  many  things." 

"  So  can  most  women.  But  the  question  is,  what 
sort  of  things  ?  " 

"  She  can  teach.  She  is  now  teaching  in  a  first- 
class  school." 

"  Good.  There  is  abundant  employment  for 
teachers,  but  the  American  standard  of  excellence 
is  high." 

"  And  she  is  a  pretty  good  gardener." 

"  Excellent,  too,"  said  Gilbert,  hardly  able  to  re- 
press a  smile ;  "  that  is,  if  she  goes  out  West.  Is 
she  married  ?  " 

"  Married ! "  repeated  Freddie,  in  amazement. 
"  Oh,  no,  of  course  she's  not  married." 

This  time  he  was  obliged  to  cough  to  hide  his 
merriment. 

"  Has  she  plenty  of  energy  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  think  so,"  she  answered,  dubiously.  "  I  know 
she  is  not  easily  tired." 

"  And  has  she  good  health  ?     Is  she  young  ?  " 

"  Yes,  she  is  young,  and  has  excellent  health." 


OUT    IN    A     STORM.  129 

"  Young  lady,"  said  Gilbert,  gravely,  "  I  know  you 
have  been  speaking  of  yourself.  You  told  me  that 
you  have  no  relatives.  Would  it  be  wise  or  prudent 
of  you  to  go  alone  to  a  strange  land,  among  strange 
people  ?  " 

"  And  if  I  am  alone  in  the  world,"  said  Freddie, 
proudly,  "  I  am  not  a  vegetable,  to  take  root  and 
stay  in  one  place  till  I  die  !  I  think  I  shall  go  to 
America.  I  am  almost  sure  I  shall." 

"  If  you  do  go,  and  are  inclined  to  devote  a  few 
years  to  a  good  and  noble  work,  you  cannot  do  better 
than  teach  a  freedman's  school  in  one  of  the  Southern 
States.  The  accursed  system  of  slavery  did  not 
fetter  the  body  alone,  but  extended  to  the  mind. 
The  slaves  were  kept  in  brutal  ignorance  that  they 
might  not  know  their  rights  or  wrongs ;  and  their 
emancipation  cannot  be-  completed  till  they  have  re- 
ceived the  blessing  of  education." 

"  Then  do  you  believe  that  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  is 
true  ? "  asked  the  girl,  with  more  earnestness  than 
logic. 

"  Ay,  every  word  of  it !  "  he  answered,  with  fervor. 
"  I  served  in  the  Union  army  during  the  war,  and  I 
taught  a  colored  school  afterwards ;  and  I  heard  and 
saw  enough  to  convince  me  that  none  of  the  horrors 
of  that  book  are  overdrawn.  And  now,"  he  added, 
suddenly  changing  his  tone,  "  don't  you  want  to 
know  why  I  left  a  country  of  which  I  think  so 
highly  ?  I'll  tell  you.  I,  too,  am  all  alone  in  the 
world.  When  quite  a  boy,  I  went  to  Australia.  I 
there  got  together  a  little  money,  and  started  for 
o 


130  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

home,  intending  to  place  a  monument  over  the  grave 
of  my  parents.  I  was  wrecked,  and  lost  all  but  a 
small  sum.  I  then  went  to  America.  Soldiering  is 
not  a  profitable  business,  and  school-teaching  little 
better;  so  it  was  several  years  before  I  was  rich 
enough  to  carry  out  my  project.  However,  it  is 
done  now.  I  have  fulfilled  what  I  consider  a  sacred 
duty,  as  well  as  the  dearest  wish  of  my  heart,  and 
now  I  am  on  my  way  back  to  the  western  world, 
ready  to  begin  life  anew.  Here  is  a  house;  had  we 
not  better  take  her  in  ?  She  is  either  asleep  or  in- 
sensible, I  think." 

"  This  is  the  place  where  I  intended  to  bring  her, 
if  she  has  nowhere  else  to  go  to.  Kitty !  Kitty ! 
Would  you  like  to  go  to  Widow  Allison's  ?  " 

But  Kitty  was  unable  to  reply,  and  Freddie  led 
the  way  into  the  cottage. 

"  Dearie  me,  miss,  what  a  day  for  you  to  be  out 
in,  and  no  umbrella,  and  no  shawl  nor  nothing !"  ex- 
claimed the  widow  as  they  entered.  "  Why,  miss, 
who  have  you  got  there,  for  mercy's  sake  ?  Is  she 
dead  ?  " 

"  A  poor  creature  to  whom  you  showed  kindness 
when  every  one  besides. turned  their  backs  upon  her, 
Mrs.  Allison  ;  Kitty  Reeves." 

"  Laws  a  me !  you  don't  say  so  !  Where  in  the 
world  did  you  find  her?  " 

"I'll  tell  you  all  about  that,  by  and  by.  We 
must  get  her  into  bed  at  once.  She  is  not  dead,  but 
insensible  from  cold  and  exposure ;  and  hunger,  too, 
no  doubt."  Then  she  added  in  a  whisper,  "  I 


OUT    IN    A     STORM.  13! 

will  pay  you  for  your  trouble,  and  bear  all  ex- 
penses." 

"  Oh,  miss,  I'm  sure  I'd  do  all  I  could  for  her 
without  thinking  about  pay ;  but  I'm  a  poor,  lone 
woman —  " 

"  Hush  !  "  interrupted  Freddie,  hastily.  "  Get  the 
bed  ready,  while  I  try  to  warm  her  by  the  fire.  We 
must  have  hot  water,  and  hot  bricks,  and  flannels, 
and  no  end  of  things." 

Gilbert  Bracebridge,  meanwhile,  had  seated  him- 
self in  front  of  the  fire  with  his  burthen,  and  having 
thrown  aside  the  dripping  cloak,  was  alternately 
chafing  the  hands  and  the  spine  of  the  unfortunate 
girl. 

Freddie  placed  the  baby,  which  remained  most 
unnaturally  quiet,  in  the  snug  recess  of  Mrs.  Alli- 
son's cushioned  chair,  and  assisted,  energetically,  in 
the  work  of  resuscitation. 

With  a  placid  brow,  that  faithfully  concealed  the 
agitation  of  his  soul,  Gilbert  watched  her,  where  she 
knelt  on  the  cottage  floor  and  ministered,  like  a  sis- 
ter, to  the  poor  lost  creature.  She  drew  off  the  old 
worn-out  boots  and  ragged  stockings,  and  while  she 
warmed  and  rubbed  the  thin,  soiled  feet  with  her 
strong  hands,  they  looked  so  helpful  and  sympa- 
thetic, that  Gilbert  thought  he  must  have  loved  her 
had  he  seen  nothing  of  her  but  those  hands.  The 
woman  whom  he  held  so  tenderly  on  his  knees 
seemed  to  him  like  a  myth,  and  the  only  real  thing, 
in  this  world,  to  him,  was  that  kneeling  girl. 

He  knew  not  how  long  this  had  lasted,  when  Mrs. 


132  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

Allison  bustled  in,  bringing  a  blanket,  which  she 
made  hot  by  the  fire,  chattering  all  the  time.  Then 
he  was  requested  to  carry  Kitty  up-stairs,  which  he 
did  mechanically,  and  returned  to  his  place  by  the 
fire,  saying  he  would  wait,  in  case  they  might  have 
to  send  for  a  doctor. 

While  Freddie  and  the  widow  were  busy  with  the 
invalid,  he  sank  into  a  reverie,  from  which  he  was 
aroused  by  Freddie,  who  came  flying  down  the  nar- 
row stairs  with  a  small  phial  in  her  hand. 

"  Look  here ! "  she  exclaimed,  her  eyes  flashing 
with  indignation ;  "  this  is  the  cause  of  that  poor 
baby's  heavy  sleep !  Soothing  Syrup  indeed!  Oh, 
the  wretch  who  sells  such  poisonous  trash  ought  to 
be  shut  up  in  prison"  for  life !  He  is  far  more  guilty 
than  a  mere  thief  who  only  steals  money,  for  he 
steals  the  health  and  brains  of  helpless  infants. 
There,  that's  disposed  of!  "  And  she  threw  the 
phial  into  the  fire. 

"  It  is  indeed  lamentable  that  such  things  should 
be  used,"  said  Gilbert ;  "  but  while  mothers  are  so 
ignorant  as  to  be  unaware  that  the,y  are  ruining  the 
health  of  their  children,  and  training  them  to  be 
drunkards  by  creating  an  appetite  for  stimulants, 
there  will  always  be  found  druggists,  scarcely  less 
ignorant,  who  will  sell  the  poison  to  them.  How  is 
the  poor  girl  now  ?  " 

"  Better,  thank  you,"  replied  Freddie,  who  was 
now  occupied  with  the  baby.  "  She  has  had  some  hot 
tea  and  some  food,  and  is  getting  warm.  But  why 
did  you  not  hold  this  poor  little  thing  to  the  fire  ?  " 


OUT    IN    A     STORM,  133 

"  To  confess  the  truth,  I  had  forgotten  its  exist- 
ence," he  answered,  with  a  sad  smile.  "  I  was  very 
brutal,  I  confess,  to  be  so  pre-occupied  with  a  matter 
of  more  than  life  and  death  to  myself,  that  I  over- 
looked that  small  atom  of  humanity.  Can  I  do 
anything  to  make  amends  for  my  crime  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  said ;  "it  needs  only  warmth,  till  it 
sleeps  off  the  effect  of  that  horrible  drug." 

"  Then  I  am  wanted  no  more,"  he  continued,  with 
a  sigh. 

"  I  am  very  grateful  for  what  you  have  already 
done,"  said  Freddie.  "  I  believe  she  would  be  dead, 
but  for  you." 

"  Tut,  /  did  nothing,"  said  Gilbert.  "  /  did  not 
take  off  my  cloak  to  wrap  her  in.  But  I  must  go." 

He  rose,  and  stood  for  a  few  moments  looking 
down  at  her,  as  she  sat  on  a  low  stool,  holding  the 
baby's  little  shrivelled  feet  to  the  fire. 

"  Shall  you  come  to  America  ?  "  he  asked,  at 
length,  with  an  obvious  effort. 

"  I  think  so,"  she  said,  softly,  as  if  ashamed  of  the 
confession. 

"  And  shall  you  go  to  the  South — say  to  South 
Carolina — to  teach  ?  " 

"  I  shall  try  to  do  so,"  she  answered,  in  the  same 
voice. 

"Take  as  many  testimonials  as  you  can,  and 
apply  to  the  Freedmen's  Bureau,  in  New  York  or 
Boston.  They  will  send  you  where  you  are  most 
needed.  Good-bye ! " 

He  offered  his  hand.     As  she  placed  hers  in  it, 


134  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

she  looked  up.  Their  eyes  met,  and  his  were  so  full 
of  sorrow  that  her  own  brimmed  with  tears,  and  she 
turned  aside  to  hide  them.  He  laid  his  left  hand 
lightly  on  her  head,  and  bending  over  her,  breathed 
rather  than  uttered  the  words,  "  May  God  forever 
bless  you  !  "  then  strode  out  of  the  cottage. 

Suddenly  recollecting  that  her  own  clothes  were 
wet  through,  she  called  to  Mrs.  Allison  to  take 
charge  of  the  baby,  and  hastened  home.  But  it  was 
in  vain  that  she  looked  up  and  down  the  road.  The 
tall  figure  that  she  hoped  to  see  was  nowhere  visible. 

Mrs.  Templeman,  who  had  flattered  herself  that 
Freddie  had  escaped  the  storm  by  returning  from 
Chester  by  rail,  and  that  she  was  even  now  waiting 
at  the  station  "till  the  dregs  of  the  storm  were  past," 
insisted  upon  putting  her  to  bed  immediately,  and 
so  overwhelmed  her  with  care  and  coddling  that  she 
had  no  opportunity  to  relate  her  adventure.  Subse- 
quent reflection  told  her  that  it  was  as  well  to  keep 
silence  altogether  upon  this  subject,  as  Kitty's  return 
to  the  village  must  be  anything  but  pleasant  to  Mrs. 
Templeman.  "So,"  thought  Freddie,  "if  anybody 
else  likes  to  tell  her,  they  may.  I'll  say  nothing  to 
annoy  her." 

It  was  pleasant  to  lie  in  her  warm  bed,  watching 
the  flickering  firelight,  and  recall  every  word  which 
that  interesting  stranger  had  said :  yet  when,  at  last, 
Freddie  fell  asleep,  her  pillow  was  wet  with  tears. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

FREDDIE    DREAMS. 

CONTRARY  to  Mrs.  Templeman's  predictions,  Fred- 
die suffered  no  ill  effects  from  her  drenching,  but 
was  up  as  usual  in  the  morning,  and  accompanied 
her  friend  to  the  station. 

On  her  way  home,  she  called  at  Mrs.  Allison's. 
Kitty  was  unable  to  leave  her  bed,  and  the  widow 
was  feeding  the  baby.  Kitty  was  so  sick  that 
Freddie  fetched  the  doctor,  who  pronounced  the 
case  to  be  utterly  hopeless,  and  her  death  to  be 
only  a  question  of  time :  a  few  weeks  at  most,  or  it 
might  be  a  few  days.  She  was  far  gone  in  con- 
sumption. 

Freddie  made  up  her  mind  at  once.  Kitty's  pa- 
rents must  know  of  her  condition,  and  must,  if  pos- 
sible, be  brought  to  visit  and  forgive  her.  It  was  a 
hard  task  to  undertake.  For  a  young  girl  like  her- 
self, it  was  a  hard  and  a  delicate  one,  for  the  father 
had  denounced  the  most  horrible  imprecations  on 
the  frail  creature  when  she  fled  in  disgrace  from  the 
village. 

But  Freddie  knew  she  was  acting  in  a  good  cause, 
and  the  touch  of  that  tremulous  hand  upon  her  head, 


136  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

and  the  murmured  blessing,  inspired  her  with  cour- 
age to  do  anything  that  her  conscience  told  her  was 
right 

Mr.  Reeves,  Kitty's  father,  was  a  small  farmer. 
He  was  at  work  in  the  barn-yard  when  she  came  up, 
but  he  turned  away,  pretending  not  to  see  her,  for 
he  had  looked  no  one  straight  in  the  face  since  his 
daughter  ran  away. 

"  Mr.  Reeves,"  said  Freddie,  "  will  you  come  into 
the  house  ?  I  want  to  speak  to  you  and  your  wife, 
both  together." 

He  looked  about,  as  if  trying  to  find  an  excuse, 
but  finally  walked  towards  the  house.  It  was  easier 
than  speaking. 

"  I  don't  know  how  to  begin,"  she  said,  when  the 
gloomy  couple  stood  before  her  in  the  farm-house 
kitchen. 

"  Please  to  be  smart  about  it,  whatever  it  is,  Miss 
Wilson,"  said  the  farmer,  nervously,  "for  I've  got  to 
cut  turnips  for  the  cows." 

"  It  is  something  so  dreadful ! "  cried  Freddie,  sud- 
denly realizing  the  full  horror  of  her  message  to  these 
poor  people,  now  that  she  was  called  upon  to  utter 
it ;  and,  covering  her  face  with  her  hands,  she  burst 
into  tears. 

"  O  Lord,  be  merciful !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Reeves, 
"  is  my  poor  child  dead  ?  " 

Freddie,  though  crushed  beneath  the  sense  of  her 
utter  incompetency  to  manage  her  communication 
so  as  best  to  move  the  stern  father's  feelings,  yet 
saw  at  once  the  advantage  she  would  gain  if  the 


FREDDIE     DREAMS.  137 

belief  in  Kitty's  death  drew  from  him  any  token  of 
sorrow.  She  therefore  remained  silent. 

"  May  God  forgive  her ! "  he  said,  solemnly. 

"And  cannot  you  forgive  her,  too?  "  said  Freddie, 
eagerly. 

"  It's  too  late,"  he  replied. 

"  No,  it  is  not  too  late  !  She  is  not  dead  yet ;  but 
she  is  dying.  She  was  out  in  that  dreadful  storm 
yesterday,  and  if  I  had  not  found  her,  she  must  have 
perished  by  the  road-side.  Another  person  carried 
her  to  widow  Allison's ;  and  there  she  lies,  and  can 
never  rise  from  her  bed  again.  Oh,  will  you  not  go 
to  her  ?  If  she  has  sinned,  she  has  suffered  and  re- 
pented. You  hope  that  God  will  forgive  her,  and 
are  you  more  righteous  than  He  is,  that  you  cannot 
forgive  ?  " 

The  farmer  pulled  his  hat  over  his  eyes,  and 
went  out,  muttering  something  about  "  cutting  them 
turnips." 

Freddie  wrung  her  hands  and  looked  towards  the 
unhappy  mother,  who  was  vainly  trying  to  untie  her 
apron  strings. 

"  You  will  go  to  her,"  she  said,  loosening  the  knot 
and  helping  her  to  put  on  her  shawl  and  bonnet ; 
"don't  stop  for  anything  else.  She  has  every  com- 
fort, and  you  can  take  little  dainties  to  her  by 
and  by." 

She  led  the  poor  woman  down  the  road  which, 
having  a  few  houses  scattered  here  and  there 
along  its  sides,  was  called  the  village  street,  when, 
behold,  at  some  distance  before  them,  walking  with 


138  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

long  strides  towards  Mrs.  Allison's,  they  saw  the 
farmer ! 

Freddie  had  gained  her  point.  The  parents  were 
reconciled  to  their  erring  child,  and  the  short  residue 
of  her  life  was  made  happy  by  their  love  and  care. 
Her  mother  took  the  baby,  but  the  little  creature 
had  been  too  often  stupefied  by  the  Soothing  Syrup 
(that  real  "  blessing  to  mothers  "  who  desire  to  be 
rid  of  their  children)  which  poor  Kitty  had  given  it 
under  the  belief  that  it  would  save  it  from  pain  and 
hunger;  and  in  a  few  months  it  was  placed  by  the 
side  of  its  mother. 

After  seeing  the  farmer  and  his  wife  enter  widow 
Allison's  door,  Freddie  returned  home,  feeling  con- 
tented, and  worked  so  hard  at  house  cleaning  the  rest 
of  the  day  that  she  was  tired  when  she  went  to  bed. 

The  presentiment,  or  whatever  the  feeling  might 
have  been,  which  had  made  her  so  urgent  with 
Mrs.  Templernan  to  put  her  money  in  the  bank, 
had  entirely  disappeared  during  the  excitement  of 
the  previous  evening,  and  the  busy  occupations  of 
the  day  had  not  tended  to  re-awaken  it. 

That  night,  however,  she  had  a  dream  that  im- 
pressed her  so  forcibly  by  its  realism  that  even  the. 
bright  sunshine  could  not  wholly  dispel  the  unpleas- 
ant effect 

She  dreamed  that  she  was  awakened  from  sleep 
by  a  knowledge  —  how  acquired  she  knew  not,  for 
she  heard  no  noise — that  Ernest  Templernan  had 
broken  into  the  house,  accompanied  by  another 
man,  whose  face  she  could  not  see ;  indeed,  he 


FREDDIE    DREAMS.  139 

seemed  to  have  no  face.  She  saw  them  in  Mrs. 
Templeman's  parlor,  breaking  open  and  ransacking 
her  desk,  and  every  other  place  where  money  might 
be  concealed.  They  then  cautiously  mounted  the 
stairs.  By  some  means  they  opened  her  door, 
though  it  was  locked,  and  Ernest  Templeman  en- 
tered. At  this  moment  she  uttered  a  loud  cry 
and  woke  ;  but,  so  powerful  was  the  impression 
left  by  the  vision,  that  it  was  some  time  before  she 
could  feel  quite  sure  that  the  hated  being  was  not  in 
her  room. 

It  was  only  three  o'clock;  yet  she  obtained  a 
light  and  dressed  herself.  Then  she  emptied  a 
large  trunk  of  its  contents,  and  pressing  a  spring 
that  held  it  in  its  place,  she  removed  a  false  bottom, 
beneath  which  lay  a  variety  of  incongruous  articles, 
which,  being  very  loth  to  part  with  them,  she  had 
secreted  in  this  manner  before  she  came  to  Mrs. 
Templeman's  school.  There  was  the  Indian  bow 
and  quiver  of  arrows,  of  exquisite  workmanship,  in 
the  use  of  which  she  had  acquired  extraordinary 
skill,  in  the  character  of  Diana.  There  was  the  suit 
of  sailor's  clothes,  in  which  she  danced  the  hornpipe 
so  saucily  that  the  women,  taking  her  for  a  boy,  fell 
in  love  with  her,  though,  thanks  to  good  old  Mr. 
Powell's  fatherly  watchfulness,  she  saw  but  one  of  the 
silly  letters  which  they  addressed  to  her.  And  there 
lay  her  violin,  on  which  she  was  a  very  good  per- 
former. And  there,  too,  was  the  object  of  which 
she  was  in  search, — a  "  gold-mounted  Colt," — her 
beautiful  revolver,  with  which  she  used  to  snuff 


HO  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

candles,  and  split  its  neat  little  bullets  on  the  edge 
of  a  knife,  and  perform  other  feats  not  often  practised 
by  girls.  She  examined  this  little  weapon  carefully; 
then  loaded  it,  replaced  everything  in  order,  and 
lying  down  again,  with  her  revolver  in  her  hand,  she 
slept  soundly  till  daylight. 

The  dream  haunted  her  all  the  day.  She  knew 
she  was  in  no  danger  while  armed,  yet  as  she  had  no 
wish  to  be  compelled  to  shoot  the  son  of  her  dear 
friend,  however  he  might  deserve  it,  she  determined 
during  Mrs.  Templeman's  absence,  to  occupy  a  room 
adjoining  that  used  by  the  domestics. 

Before  retiring  to  rest,  she  paid  a  visit  to"  her  own 
room,  carrying  in  her  hand  a  packet  of  very  sharp 
iron  carpet  tacks. 

"  I  dreamed,"  she  soliloquized,  "that  he  came  up 
stairs  in  his  stocking  feet,  as  it  is  most  likely  he 
would  do.  So,  if  he  comes,  I'll  make  it  pleasant  for 
him." 

Saying  this,  she  strewed  the  tacks  thickly  over 
the  carpet,  and  went  to  her  repose  with  an  unruffled 
conscience. 

The  house  was  large,  and  the  front  part,  being 
much  newer  than  the  back,  was  entirely  separated 
from  it,  and  only  communicated  with  it  by  doors, 
all  of  which  Freddie  secured  over  night.  Conse- 
quently, if  the  discordant  sound  that  awoke  her  in 
the  "  dead  waste  and  middle  of  the  night,"  was  a  yell 
of  pain  from  the  front  part  of  the  house,  it  must  have 
been  a  very  loud  yell  indeed. 

To  sleep  again  after  such  an  awakening  was  im- 


FREDDIE    DREAMS.  141 

possible.  She  wrapped  herself  up  warmly,  opened 
the  window,  and  sat  watching  and  listening,  for  she 
imagined  they  would  come  and  go  that  way,  as  it 
was  the  easiest  mode  of  gaining  access  to  the  pre- 
mises. She  had  not  been  long  at  her  post  when  she 
heard  the  sound  of  shuffling  feet  on  the  gravel  path 
below,  mingled  with  oaths,  curses,  and  suppressed 
cries  of  pain.  The  night  was  dark,  for  "  the  mooa 
had  gone  down,  and  the  stars  were  few,"  but  she  had 
no  difficulty  in  recognizing  the  voice  of  Ernest  Tem- 
pleman. 

She  slept  no  more  till  she  heard  the  servants 
stirring,  and  was  soon  after  aroused  by  their  terrified 
voices  at  her  door,  assuring  her  that  robbers  had 
broken  into  the  house  and  carried  off  everything  they 
could  lay  their  hands  on.  The  latter  part  of  the 
story  was,  of  course,  an  invention  of  their  excited 
imaginations.  Finding  no  money,  Ernest  Temple- 
man  would  take  nothing  else,  would  not  even  search 
for  anything  worth  taking,  since  he  knew  that  all  his 
mother's  silver  plate  had  been  sold  some  years 
before  to  pay  his  debts,  and  its  place  supplied  by 
"  electro." 

After  having  hastily  inspected  the  state  of  things 
in  the  parlor,  Freddie  ran  up  stairs,  and  could  not 
help  feeling  a  savage  satisfaction  on  observing  that 
every  step  was  stained  with  blood.  By  the  door  of 
her  room  there  was  quite  a  pool,  where  he  had 
probably  sat  down  to  pick  the  tacks  out  of  his 
feet. 

"  It  must  have  been  a  severe  punishment,"  she 


I42  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

thought;  "yet  no  more  than  he  deserved.  And 
after  all,  it  was  better  than  shooting  him." 

Freddie  was  in  a  considerable  difficulty  how  to 
act  under  the  circumstances.  It  would  never  do  to 
denounce  Mrs.  Templeman's  son  as  the  perpetrator 
of  this  outrage,  neither  could  the  affair  be  passed 
over  without  notice.  Again,  it  would  be  quite  use- 
Jess  to  alarm  Mrs.  Templeman  by  telling  her  about 
it  before  her  return  home,  and  yet  it  would  be  as- 
suming too  much  on  her  part  if  she  refrained  from 
doing  so.  So  Freddie  put  the  burthen  quietly  off 
her  own  shoulders  by  sending  for  the  clergyman, 
who  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Mrs.  Templeman's. 

Pie  acted  with  promptitude  to  the  best  of  his 
judgment.  The  police  were  of  course  called  in,  and 
they  made  a  great  many  clever  guesses,  according  to 
their  wont ;  discovered  many  curious  facts  relating 
to  the  way  in  which  an  entrance  had  been  effected; 
were  positive  that  the  burglars  were  not  professionals ; 
promised  to  do  their  utmost  to  discover  the  crimi- 
nals ;  and  every  night  sent  one  of  their  number  to 
sleep  on  the  premises,  in  case  the  attack  should  be 
renewed. 

The  Inspector  was  rather  disagreeably  inquisitive 
respecting  the  presence  of  the  tacks  on  the  floor  of 
Freddie's  room,  and  asked  many  questions ;  but 
Freddie  adhered  to  her  first  simple  statement,  which 
was  perfectly  true,  and  he  could  get  nothing  more 
from  her.  She  was  not  going  to  tell  her  dreams  to 
a  policeman  ! 

So  the  affair  rested  till  Mrs.  Templeman's  return  ; 


FREDDIE     DREAMS. 


»43 


and  by  that  time,  although  the  specified  "  nine  days  " 
had  not  elapsed,  it  had  ceased  to  be  a  wonder. 

The  young  lady  who  accompanied  her  from  town 
was  no  other  than  Winifred  Trevanian.  Events  had 
occurred,  which  will  be  detailed  in  due  time,  render- 
ing it  imperative  that  a  new  home  should  be  pro- 
vided for  her,  and  Mr.  Mason,  when  applied  to  by 
the  Earl,  had  recommended  Mrs.  Templeman  as  a 
suitable  person  to  take  charge  of  her. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

CONFIDENCES. 

Now  that  my  two  heroines,  whose  fortunes  are 
destined,  henceforth,  to  be  closely  linked  together, 
have  at  last  met  under  one  roof,  it  is  time  that  I 
should  describe  them. 

Freddie  was  very  tall,  being  much  above  the  ordi- 
nary stature  of  women.  Her  figure  was  the  very 
perfection  of  symmetry,  and  no  one  would  have  sus- 
pected the  immense  strength  that  lay  concealed  un- 
der its  rounded  and  graceful  contours.  Her  face  was 
not  beautiful — that  is,  the  features  were  far  from 
regular;  yet  she  was  generally  considered  hand- 
some. Her  complexion  glowed  with  health,  and 
her  mouth,  rather  large,  and  always  ready  to  laugh 
or  smile,  when  the  full,  red  lips  were  parted,  showed 
a  set  of  strong  white  teeth,  "  like  a  palace  of  pearls," 
the  lower  set  being  supported  by  a  well-moulded 
jaw.  Her  hair,  of  a  rich  brown  color  with  a  tinge 
of  gold  in  it,  clustered  round  her  large,  well-de- 
veloped head  and  ample  forehead,  in  a  profusion  of 
short,  natural  curls.  Her  eyes  were  dark  gray, 
usually  very  calm  and  quiet ;  though,  when  she  be- 
came animated,  they  beamed  beneath  the  straight, 
144 


CONFIDENCES.  .          145 

dark  eye-brows,  with  light  and  intelligence.  Her 
nose  was  slightly  retrousse;  but,  with  the  short  upper 
lip,  gave  an  air  of  piquancy  to  her  face,  that  was 
better  than  more  regular  beauty.  Her  feet  and 
hands  were  finely  formed ; ,  not  too  small  for  her  size, 
and  strong,  supple,  and  elastic,  like  the  rest  of  her 
harmonious  frame. 

Freda  was  very  different.  In  stature  she  was  little 
above  the  common  height,  but  her  slender  figure  was 
well  proportioned,  and  exquisitely  graceful.  Hers 
was  one  of  those  faces  about  which  no  two  opinions 
could  exist.  It  was  simply  perfect  in  its  high  patrician 
cast  of  beauty.  Her  long  hair,  fine  and  soft  as  silk, 
though  raven  black,  grew  low  upon  her  broad  white 
brow,  while  her  large  eyes,  shaded  by  long  black 
lashes,  were  of  that  lovely  violet  blue  that  is  seldom 
seen  except  among  the  most  favored  of  the  daughters 
of  Erin.  Her  complexion  appeared  delicate  from 
its  purity,  but  the  rose  upon  her  cheek  was  the  sym- 
bol of  health,  without  which  true  beauty  cannot 
exist.  Her  nose  was  slightly  aquiline,  and  fault- 
less in  its  contour.  Her  mouth — what  a  difficult 
thing  it  is  to  describe  such  a  mouth  !  I'll  say,  then, 
that  the  upper  lip  hacl  the  form  of  Cupid's  bow, 
(and  so,  by  the  bye,  had  Freddie's,  on  a  larger  scale,) 
and  that  the  under  one  was  neither  thin,  nor  very 
full,  and  then  I  see  how  impossible  it  is  for  words  to 
convey  an  idea  of  that  which  the  painter's  art  could 
barely  place  upon  canvas.  I  must  leave  that  mouth, 
with  its  small,  regular  teeth,  rosy  lips,  and  the  Gre- 
cian chin,  with  its  central  dimple,  to  be  imagined. 


146  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

Her  small  feet  were  delicately  arched,  and  her  hands 
were  slender  and  dimpled,  like  those  which  Raphael 
gives  to  his  Madonnas.  For  the  rest,  she  was  a 
warm-hearted,  sweet-tempered  girl,  and  not  too  con- 
scious of  her  own  loveliness. 

Freddie's  first  emotion,  on  beholding  her  name- 
sake, was  that  of  such  profound  admiration  that  she 
could  have  knelt  to  her. 

"  Can  she  be  mortal  ? "  she  exclaimed,  the  first 
time  she  found  herself  alone  with  Mrs.  Templeman ; 
"  I  could  not  have  believed  it  possible  for  any  merely 
earthly  creature  to  be  so  lovely!  It  is  a  joy  only 
to  look  at  her!  Did  you  ever  see  any  one  so 
beautiful  ?  " 

"  No,  I  never  did,"  was  the  reply,  "  and  yet,  my 
Winifred,  there  is  a  beauty  in  the  soul  which  is  wholly 
free  from  every  envious  or  selfish  feeling  that,  to  my 
mind,  is  more  attractive  than  any  outward  perfection 
of  form  or  feature." 

"  But,  dear  Mrs.  Templeman,  I  am  sure  she  is  as 
good  as  she  is  beautiful.  Did  you  not  observe  how 
sweet  her  smile  is,  and  how  winning  her  manners  ?" 

"  My  child,  I  believe  her  to  be  a  very  sweet  girl, 
and  I  am  all  the  more  inclined  to  love  her,  because 
she  is  unfortunate  and  unhappy." 

"She  unfortunate  !  She  unhappy!  "  cried  Freddie. 
"  The  world  must  be  altogether  wrong,  some  way,  if 
that's  the  case.  What  can  make  her  unhappy?  " 

"  She  is  an  orphan,^and  almost  friendless,"  replied 
Mrs.  Templeman. 

"  Why,  so  am  I,"  said  Freddie,  "  yet  that  does  not 


CONFIDENCES.  147 

make  me  unhappy;  because  I  am  used  to  it,  I  sup- 
pose. And  then  I  have  always — or  almost  always — 
had  a  kind  friend,  who  was  like  father  or  mother  to 
me.  And  you  will  be  a  mother  to  her,  too,  will  you 
not,  dear  Mrs.  Templeman  ?  " 

"  I  will  give  her  all  the  love  that  you  do  not  mo- 
nopolize, you  rogue,"  said  Mrs.  Templeman,  kissing 
her  warmly;  "and  now,  will  you  go  to  her  and  help 
her  to  unpack  and  arrange  her  things  ?  She  is  here 
for  the  sake  of  being  under  motherly  care,  rather 
than  to  study,  for  she  is  already  highly  accom- 
plished." 

Freddie  was  delighted  to  return  to  the  contem- 
plation of  her  idol ;  but  when  more  familiar  inter- 
course convinced  her  that  that  idol  was  merely  a 
girl  like  herself,  and  that  she  was  even  her  inferior 
in  regard  to  general  information  and  worldly  wis- 
dom, her  feelings  underwent  a  change,  and  though 
she  did  not  admire  her  less,  she  loved  her  more. 

The  discovery,  which  in  their  innocent  girlish  chat 
was  soon  made,  that  their  names  were  identical, 
and  the  day  of  their  birth  the  same,  drew  them 
together  still  more,  and  they  felt  as  if  they  were 
twin  sisters,  though  born  so  many  thousand  miles 
apart. 

They  did  not,  it  is  true,  interchange  vows  of  ever- 
lasting affection,  in  the  orthodox  young-lady  style, 
and  each  kept  locked  in  her  own  breast  some  secrets 
that  she  would  not  confide  to  any  one;  but  they  were 
Freddie  and  Freda  to  each  other  from  the  first  day 
of  their  acquaintance. 


148  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

Mrs.  Templeman  was  soon  informed  of  Kitty's 
return  to  the  village,  and  Freddie,  when  questioned 
by  her,  told  her  frankly  all  about  it,  including  her 
successful  intervention  with  the  hitherto  obdurate 
parents.  On  one  point  only  was  she  somewhat  reti- 
cent ;  she  said  merely  that  a  man,  a  stranger,  who 
was  going  along  the  lane,  had  carried  poor  Kitty  to 
the  cottage.  This  reticence  was  not  the  result  of 
cunning,  but  of  maiden  modesty;  and  Mrs.  Temple- 
man, with  all  her  maternal  shrewdness,  failed  to  dis- 
cover any  connecting  link  between  the  fact  of  a 
stranger  having  carried  Kitty  through  the  storm, 
and  Freddie's  unusual  devotion  to  the  study  of 
American  geography. 

However,  chance  betrayed  to  Mrs.  Templeman 
another  fact  that  Freddie  was  equally  anxious  to 
conceal.  The  incident  of  the  tacks  had  of  course 
been  related  to  her,  among  the  other  circumstances 
connected  with  the  burglary;  and  when  Freddie, 
from  deference  for  his  mother's  feelings,  and  not  for 
any  interest  she  felt  in  himself,  asked  how  she  had 
found  Mr.  Templeman,  she  replied,  "  He  was  out 
in  the  country,  shooting,  when  I  first  called  at  his 
chambers.  I  had  sent  him  a  note  the  night  I 
arrived,  to  let  him  know  I  was  coming,  but 
it  seems  he  did  not  find  it  till  his  return.  The 
next  day  I  went  again,  and  found  him  in  bed, 
poor  boy.  He  had  lamed  himself  by  stepping  on  a 
spike — " 

Here  she  stopped,  turned  deadly  pale,  and  left  the 
room. 


CONFIDENCES.  149 

A  few  evenings  later,  in  the  twilight,  she  said  to 
Freddie,  in  a  studiously  unconcerned  tone : 

"  I  wish  you  would  tell  me,  my  love,  why  you 
were  so  anxious  that  I  should  place  that  money  in 
the  bank  before  I  went  to  town  ?  " 

"  It  was  only  a  feeling  that  I  had,  ma'am ;  a  kind 
of  presentiment,"  replied  Freddie. 

"And  what  induced  you  to  change  your  room  ?  " 

"  Oh,  that  was  a  dream,"  she  said ;  "  I  dreamed 
that  two  men  broke  into  the  house,  and  afterwards 
came  into  my  room.  The  dream  haunted  me,  and  I 
thought  I  should  not  sleep  well  there,  so  I  moved 
into  one  of  the  back  rooms." 

".Why  did  you  not  mention  this  remarkable  dream 
to  Mr.  Benson  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Freddie,  laughing  rather  ner- 
vously, "  and  get  pointed  at  all  over  the  village  as  a 
seer  of  visions  !  " 

"  Did  you  not  scatter .  those  tacks  on  the  floor 
purposely?  " 

She  had  got  to  the  point  now  that  Freddie  dreaded ; 
but  there  was  no  escape. 

"  Yes,  ma'am,  I  did,"  answered  Freddie,  in  a  peni- 
tent tone,  "  and  I  am  sorry  for  it,  if  the  men  were 
much  hurt." 

"  Whoever  the  man  might  be  who  went  to  your 
room,"  said  Mrs.  Templeman,  in  a  voice  so  stern  that 
Freddie  hardly  knew  it,  "  he  went  for  a  villainous 
purpose;  and  if  he  is  maimed  for  life,  he  deserves 
his  punishment.  Therefore,  my  child,  do  not  regret 
what  you  have  done." 


150  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

No  more  was  said  at  that  time,  but  Freddie 
heard,  incidentally,  some  weeks  later,  that  Ernest 
Templeman  had  quite  recovered  from  his  accident. 

The  school  re-commenced,  and  the  months  flew 
by,  as  they  always  do  when  every  day  brings  its 
appointed  work,  until  the  first  of  May  arrived,  when 
the  two  Winifreds  attained  their  twenty-first  birth- 
day. 

Mr.  Mason  wrote  a  letter  to  Freddie,  resigning 
his  stewardship,  and  giving  over  to  her  own  keeping 
the  sum  that  had  accumulated  in  his  hands  during  the 
three  years  when  she  had  been  with  the  circus  com- 
pany, as  well  as  Mr.  Powell's  legacy  and  savings  from 
the  presents  he  had  intercepted,  so  that  she  found 
herself  in  possession  of  about  six  hundred  pounds. 

Freddie  wrote  a  grateful  and  graceful  letter  of 
thanks  for  all  his  kindness,  but  whether  he  received 
it  or  not,  she  never  knew.  A  few  days  later,  Mrs. 
Templeman  was  informed  that  the  old  gentleman 
had  died  very  suddenly.  Freddie  lamented  his  loss 
sincerely.  She  had  very  seldom  seen  him,  indeed, 
but  he  had  always  been  to  her  the  distant  some  one 
who  represented  her  father. 

She  was  sitting,  in  the  twilight  of  a  sweet  May 
evening,  in  a  secluded  part  of  the  garden,  indulging 
in  what  was,  to  her,  the  very  unusual  occupation  of 
a  sorrowful  reverie.  She  had  lost  a  faithful  friend. 
This  was  the  third  time  in  her  short  life  that  death 
had  left  her  with  only  one  link  to  unite  her  with  the 
rest  of  humanity,  and  twice  out  of  those  three  times 
it  was  the  old  lawyer  who  had  remained  as  the  bond 


CONFIDENCES.  151 

of  union.  Now  he  was  gone,  and  she  had  only 
Mrs.  Templeman  left ;  and  that  poor  lady's  private 
sorrows  so  completely  absorbed  her  from  all  beyond 
absolute  duties,  that  Freddie  felt  she  had  but  a  feeble 
claim  upon  her.  The  remembrance  of  the  stranger, 
his  kind  talk  and  gentle  manners,  and  his  parting 
benediction,  came  to  her,  bringing  a  sense  of  com- 
fort. Yet  why  should  she  take  comfort  from  thinking 
of  him  ?  She  would  never  see  him  again !  And 
she  rested  her  head  against  the  back  of  the  rustic 
seat,  and  wept.  She  believed  she  was  crying  be- 
cause her  old  friend  was  dead  ! 

Freda's  arms  around  her,  and  her  soft  voice, 
cooing  consolation,  roused  her  from  her  grief. 

"  It  is  so  dreadful  to  lose  a  friend,"  she  said  ;  "but, 

0  Freddie,  I  remember  when  my  mother  died,  and 
the  circumstances  were  so  terrible !     It  is  all  like 
some  fearful  dream.     Our  house  was  burnt,  and  I 
was  told  that  the  fright  and  agitation  killed  her.  But 

1  don't  believe  that.     I  believe  she  was  murdered  ! " 

"  Murdered  !  "  cried  Freddie,  starting  up.  "  Oh, 
Freda,  who  could  have  done  it  ?  " 

"  That  I  must  not  say,"  replied  Freda,  sadly. 
"  That  is  the  '  skeleton  in  the  closet '  that  I  must 
keep  locked  up  all  my  life.  He  was  related  to  my 
mother,  or  had  power  over  her,  and  that  night  he 
locked  me  up  at  the  top  of  the  house,  and  then  set 
fire  to  it.  I  know  he  did,  for  I  heard  her  scream  and 
beg  him  not.  The  smoke  began  to  come  through 
the  crevices  of  the  door,  when  I  heard  a  voice  calling 
me  by  name  and  telling  me  to  knock  on  the  door  to 


152  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

guide  him  to  it.  That  was  my  guardian.  It  was 
the  first  time  I  saw  him.  He  carried  me  down 
through  the  stifling  smoke,  and  we  got  through  a 
window,  and  escaped  down  the  trellis.  Then  he 
went  in  and  brought  my  mother  out.  She  was  pale 
and  senseless,  but  I  had  often  seen  her  faint,  so  I 
was  not  frightened.  We  were  taken  to  a  convent 
of  nuns,  and  there  my  poor  mamma  lay  in  bed  for  I 
do  not  know  how  long ;  but  she  did  not  get  up  again, 
and  I  am  certain  she  was  murdered.  She  was  not 
touched  by  the  fire,  and  there  was  a  great  bruise 
upon  her  chest.  I  never  saw  him  again,  and  for  a 
long  time  I  believed  (though  I  'know  not  what  foun- 
dation I  had  for  it)  that  he  had  been  tried  for  the 
murder,  and  executed.  But  a  short  time  before  I 
came  here  an  attempt  was  made  to  take  me  by  force 
from  the  convent,  where  I  have  told  you  before  that 
my  guardian  left  me  to  be  educated,  after  my  mother's 
death.  I  did  not  see  the  man  whose  name  I  will 
never  mention,  for  they  all  wore  masks ;  but  I 
thought  I  recognized  his  voice  ;  and  oh,  unless  you 
knew  all,  you  could  not  conceive  a  thousandth  part 
of  the  terror  and  loathing  with  which  it  inspired 
me  !  From  what  I  heard  my  captors  say,  they  were 
searching  my  room  for  some  jewels.  Now  I  never 
possessed  any  jewels,  though  I  know  my  mother 
had  some,  which  she  used  to  call  my  dowry.  But  I 
supposed  they  were  burnt  in  the  fire  that  destroyed 
our  house.  The  ruffians  had  bound  me,  and  tied 
something  over  my  mouth,  so  that  I  could  not  ciy 
for  help,  but  their  delaying  to  search  for  those  jewels 


CONFIDENCES.  153 

saved  me.  One  of  the  nuns  heard  them,  and  gave 
the  alarm.  Many  of  those  Sisters  of  Charity  are 
strong  country  women.  They  came  armed  with 
sticks,  and  the  men  had  to  fight  hard  to  get  away 
from  them.  My  guardian  came  immediately  from 
England,  and  took  me  away  with  him.  We  re- 
mained in  London  for  a  few  days,  and  then  Mrs. 
Templeman  came,  and  brought  me  here.  And  now, 
dear  Freddie,  you  see  that  there  is  at  least  one  other 
person  in  the  world  quite  as  lonely  and  friendless  as 
you  are." 

"  How  can  you  say  so,  Freda,  when  you  have  that 
dear,  kind  guardian  !  "  cried  Freddie,  who  had  lis- 
tened with  the  deepest  interest  to  her  friend's 
recital. 

"  I  cannot  extract  much  comfort  from  my  associa- 
tions with  him,"  answered  Freda,  sadly.  "There  is 
grief  and  mystery  there,  too.  He  shuns  me,  Fred- 
die !  His  manner  towards  me  is  altered  and  es- 
tranged. When  first  he  used  to  come  to  see  me  at 
the  convent,  he  was  kind  and  loving  as — as —  " 

"  As  a  father,"  suggested  Freddie. 

"  I  do  not  know  what  the  love  of  a  father  is  like," 
said  Freda,  hurriedly,  as  a  gloomy  cloud  passed  over 
her  lovely  brow  ;  "  but  my  guardian  was  as  kind  as 
ever  he  could  be  till  about  four  years  ago.  Then, 
just  when  I  had  discovered  more  and  more  all  that 
was  good  and  lovable  in  his  character,  when  I  was  old 
enough  to  begin  to  appreciate  him,  when  I  had 
begun  to  watch  and  long  for  his  visits,  and  to  count 
the  days  till  I  might  hope  to  see  him  again,  then, 


1 54  WINIFRED' S    JE  WEL  S. 

suddenly,  his  manner  became  constrained,  and  his 
visits  were  shortened,  and  a  longer  and  longer  time 
elapsed  between  them.  What  I  had  done  to  alienate 
him,  I  cannot  imagine." 

"  Is  he  married  ? "  inquired  Freddie,  rather 
abruptly.  Her  experience  in  novel  reading  was 
coming  into  play,  to  discover  a  cause  for  this  strange 
change  of  mood. 

"  Married ! "  repeated  Freda,  with  a  look  of 
alarm.  "  Oh,  no  !  no  !  And  yet,"  she  added,  cover- 
ing her  face  with  her  hands,  and  sobbing,  "  how  can 
I  say  that  he  is  not?  I  know  nothing  of  him! 
Nothing !  Not  even  his  name,  except  his  Christian 
name  of  Rupert." 

"That  is  very  singular,"  said  the  judicial  Freddie, 
bent  more  than  ever  on  fathoming  the  mystery. 
"  Did  the  Superior  of  the  convent  know  who  he 
was  ?  " 

"  She  must  have  known,  for  she  wrote  to  him. 
But  she  would  riot  tell  me." 

"  There  is  a  mystery  about  him,  certainly,"  con- 
tinued Freddie ;  "  but  that  does  not  necessarily  mean 
that  there  is  anything  wrong.  The  man  you  have 
described  is  too  noble  for  that." 

Freda  smiled  her  approbation. 

"  But,  my  dear  Freda,  you  have  betrayed  one 
thing,  and  that  is,  that  you  are  in  love  with  your 
guardian  Rupert." 

Freda  hid  her  blushing  face  in  her  friend's 
neck. 

"  And  you  have  convinced  me  of  another  thing," 


CONFIDENCES.  155 

proceeded  Freddie,  encircling  her  companion  with 
her  arm,  "  and  that  is,  that  he  loves  you." 

"  No  !  That  is  impossible  !  "  murmured  Freda. 
"  He  is  so  much  my  superior  in  all  things  ;  he  could 
not  love  me." 

"Now,  just  listen  to  that!"  exclaimed  Freddie, 
appealing  to  the  surrounding  vegetation  apparently, 
for  there  was  nothing  else  within  hearing.  "  As  if 
any  man  could  look  at  her  and  not  love  her !  Oh, 
Freda,  don't  you  know  that  you  are  beautiful  beyond 
any  power  of  description  ?  " 

"  I  know  that  you  are  a  dreadful  flatterer,"  said 
Freda.  "  But,  Freddie  dear,  tell  me  why  you  thjnk 
that — you  know  what  I  mean — why  you  think  as 
you  do." 

"  From  his  change  of  conduct,  which  is  to  be  ex- 
plained on  no  other  grounds.  From  some  motive, 
he  does  not  think  it  right  or  honorable  to  declare 
his  love.  It  may  be  only  that  he,  being  so  much 
older  than  you  are,  dares  not  aspire  to  the  posses- 
sion of  so  much  loveliness.  It  is  possible  that  he 
may  be  married ;  but,  if  so,  it  is  to  an  uncongenial 
partner,  one  to  whom  he  could  not  confide  the  child 
he  rescued  from  the  fire." 

"  You  have  thrown  quite  another  light  upon  his 
conduct,  Freddie.  Oh,  I  wish  I  could  believe  that 
you  are  right !  " 

"What  name  did  he  give  Mrs.  Templeman?" 

"  She  did  not  see  him !  "  answered  Freda.  "It 
was  all  arranged  through  Mr.  Mason.  When  Mrs. 
Templeman  came  to  fetch  me  from  the  hotel,  she 


156  WINIFRED"  S    JEWELS. 

asked  for  the  young  lady  in  No.  16.  I  came  out, 
closely  veiled,  and  kept  my  veil  down,  by  Rupert's 
desire,  till  I  arrived  here." 

"  When  will  he  come  to  see  you  ?  " 

"  Never,  I  fear." 

The  bell,  ringing  for  evening  prayers,  interrupted 
them  ;  but  they  were  closer  and  warmer  friends  than 
ever,  after  this  confidential  interview. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

BROUGHT   TO    BAY. 

\ 

THE  Earl  had  not  had  a  very  pleasant  time  during 
the  nine  years  which  had  elapsed  since  Captain 
Grainger's  first  visit.  He  worked  on  his  farm  as 
assiduously  as  ever;  but  it  was  no  longer  with  the 
hope  of  accumulating  a  little  fortune  for  Freda;  it 
was  merely  to  save  her  jewels  from  the  rapacity  of 
that  unscrupulous  extortionist.  Sometimes  he  was 
even  compelled,  though  always  with  extreme  reluc- 
tance, to  draw  upon  his  inherited  property  to  satisfy 
his  demands. 

Since  his  mother's  death,  he  had  scarcely  seemed 
to  look  upon  his  ancestral  estates  as  his  own ;  but 
acting  as  steward,  he  lived  upon  the  salary  of  one, 
supplemented  by  his  earnings  on  the  farm. 

Captain  Grainger's  demands  were  very  irregular. 
At  times  he  would  give  his  victim  a  respite  of  seve- 
ral months,  and  again  he  would  write  for  money 
with  scarcely  a  week's  intermission.  Occasionally 
he  repeated  his  threat  of  appealing  to  Freda ;  but 
the  Earl  paid  little  regard  to  these  demonstrations, 
not  believing  that  the  rascal  was  acquainted  with 
her  retreat.  When,  however,  after  demanding  a 

157 


158  WINIFRED'S.    JEWELS. 

large  sum,  which  the  Earl  could  not,  and  would  not 
send,  the  attack  upon  the  convent  was  made,  Freda's 
anxious  guardian  saw  that  she  was  no  longer  in 
safety  there,  and  removed  her  to  Mrs.  Templeman's 
with  every  precaution  to  prevent  discovery,  as  has 
already  been  made  known  in  the  last  chapter. 

The  persecution  was  then  renewed  with  increased 
vigor,  and  assumed  a  new  form  of  annoyance ;  for, 
if  a  demand  for  money  was  not  immediately  com- 
plied with,  it  was  enforced  by  the  appearance  of  the 
Captain  in  person.  Unfortunately,  Captain  Grainger 
quickly  discovered  that  this  mode  was  a  very  effec- 
tual one,  as  the  Earl,  besides  the  loathing  he  felt  for 
him,  personally,  was  greatly  annoyed  by  being 
haunted  by  this  mysterious  and  disreputable-looking 
stranger.  > 

There  is,  however,  a  degree  of  tension  at  which 
the  toughest  cord  must  break;  and  this  Captain 
Grainger  discovered  to  his  cost. 

It  was  towards  the  end  of  June.  The  Earl  was 
pacing  rapidly  up  and  down  his  library,  the  in- 
equality of  his  steps  betraying  the  agitation  of  his 
mind.  On  the  table  lay  an  open  letter  from  Grain- 
ger, containing  an  imperative  demand  for  a  hundred 
pounds,  though  the  Earl  had  sent  him  twenty  only 
a  week  before. 

It  was  not  the  question  of  money  that  troubled 
him,  but  the  desperate  step  towards  which  this  in- 
cessant black-mailing  was  hurrying  him. 

"  It  must  come  to  this  at  last,"  he  soliloquized. 
"  However  I  delay  it,  it  must  come  to  this!  I  ought 


BROUGHT    7V    BAY.  159 

to  have  done  it  years  ago,  and  should,  but  that  I 
had  a  duty  to  perform  to  that  child.  And  now  that 
she  is  a  child  no  more ;  now  that  I  have  learned  to 
love  her — O  God,  how  tenderly!  how  truly! — now, 
it  is  more  than  ever  imperative  on  me  to  take  this 
irrevocable  step.  I  dare  not  see  her  again,  or  my 
resolution  might  fail  me.  Even  at  our  last  meeting, 
I  read  that  in  her  sweet  eyes  which  might  develop 
into  love.  Love  for  me,  old  and  ugly  as  I  am ! 
Poor  child,  she  knew  no  others  to  compare  me  with ! 
But  she  will ;  she  will,  and  then  she  will  forget  me. 
That  Mrs.  Templeman  is  a  woman  to  be  trusted,  I 
am  sure,  and  my  Freda  will  go  into  a  small  but  select 
social  circle ;  that  is  what  the  good  soul  said  to  Ma- 
son. My  Freda's  beauty  and  grace  will  do  the  rest. 
Ah  me,  that  I  must  never  know  her  fate !  That  seems 
the  sharpest  blow  of  all ;  but  it  must  be  borne.  I 
will  take  her  jewels  to  her — her  mother's  jewels — 
that  I  have  struggled  so  hard  to  preserve  for  her. 
I  shall  be  once  more  under  the  same  roof  with  her ; 
but  I  must  not  see  her.  It  is  hard — it  is  hard  to 
bear !  By  to-morrow  morning  that  fellow  Grainger 
will  be  here  as  usual.  I  shall  have  time  to  go  to 
London,  make  my  arrangements,  and  then  to  Brigh- 
ton. If  he  follows  me  there,  so  much  the  better. 
Then  comes  the  last  scene  of  all.  The  Earl  is  dead ; 
long  live  the  Earl !  That  will  be  the  easiest  part  of  it. 
And  finally,  a  certain  Rupert  Forester  makes  his 
way  to  Australia,  or  New  Zealand,  or  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  'or  the  United  States,  according  to  the  ves- 
sel that  sails  first  Well,  the  world  is  wide  enough." 


160  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

His  first  care  was  to  destroy  Grainger's  letter; 
and  having  watched  it  as  it  was  consumed  to  the 
last  atom,  he  packed  his  valise  with  sufficient  linen 
to  last  him  a  week,  placed  the  casket  containing 
Winifred's  Jewels  safely  in  it,  and  told  his  servants 
he  was  going  to  spend  a  few  days  at  Brighton. 
There  was  half  an  hour  to  spare  before  the  train 
started,  so  he  went  to  the  stable  and  patted  his 
horse.  He  thought  the  creature  had  never  been  so 
demonstrative  in  his  affection.  His  dogs,  too,  came 
round  him  with  a  look  of  yearning  love  in  their  hon- 
est eyes  that  seemed  to  say  they  knew  he  was  going 
from  them  forever. 

"  I  thought  I  could  go  hence  without  a  pang," 
said  the  Earl  to  himself,  with  a  choking  sensation 
about  the  throat,  "  but  I  find  I  cannot.  These  crea- 
tures are  dearer  to  me  than  I  supposed." 

Then  came  the  old  gardener,  wanting  to  carry  his 
Lordship's  valise  to  the  station. 

"  It  isn't  fit,"  he  said,  "  that  your  Lordship  should 
carry  your  own  luggage." 

"  And  I  am  sure  it  would  be  far  less  fit  were  I  to 
burthen  you,  old  friend,  with  what  I  am  so  much 
better  able  to  carry.  Good-bye,  Ralph;  take  care 
of  Rollo  and  the  dogs  while  I  am  away." 

He  shook  hands  with  his  old  servant,  and  pressed 
something  into  his  palm  as  he  did  so.  Then  snatch- 
ing up  his  valise,  he  strode  hurriedly  away. 

Ralph  hastened  after,  anxious,  he  knew  not  why, 
to  keep  him  in  sight  as  long  as  possible.  "When  he 
could  see  him  no  longer,  he  looked  at  what  he  had 
in  his  hand.  It  was  a  five-pound  note. 


BROUGHT    TO    BAY.  161 

"  My  mind  misgives  me,"  said  the  old  man,  while 
tears  rolled  down  his  withered  yet  ruddy  cheeks ; 
"  my  mind  misgives  me  that  I  shall  never  see  him 
again.  I  do  hope  there's  nothing  a-going  to  happen 
to  him !  He's  been  a  good  master,  but  there's  been 
a  something  a-weighing  upon  his  mind  this  ever  so 
long.  Ay,  ever  since  his  mother's  death,  it's  been 
a-weighing  upon  him,  dreadful." 

It  was  late  that  evening  when  the  Earl  presented 
himself  at  Ashford  house,  and  requested  to  see  Mrs. 
Templeman. 

She  was  not  at  home,  the  servant  said.  To  his 
anxious  inquiry  when  she  would  return,  the  girl 
answered  that  it  was  impossible  to  say,  as  she 
was  gone  to  London  to  her  son,  who  was  danger- 
ously ill. 

"  Is  there  any  one  else  here  ?  "  His  heart  beat 
violently  as  he  asked  this  question,  for  should  the 
reply  be,  "  Miss  Trevanian,"  he  would  be  compelled 
to  see  her.  He  should  see  her  and  speak  to  her 
once  more,  and  no  blame  would  be  his  for  seeking 
her.  But  his  wild  hope  was  dashed  to  the  ground 
when  the  girl  replied  that  "  perhaps  he  would  like 
to  see  Miss  Wilson ;  she  was  one  of  the  teachers, 
and  almost  like  Mrs.  Templeman's  own  daughter." 

Freddie  was  accordingly  summoned. 

When  she  entered  the  parlor,  she  found  a  man 
of,  as  she  imagined,  about  thirty-five  years  of  age, 
with  a  prepossessing,  though  by  no  means  hand- 
some face,  a  good,  well-formed  figure,  and  very  gen- 
tlemanly manner. 


1 62  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  Miss  Wilson  ?  "  he  said,  rising  as  she  came  in. 

"I  am  Miss  Wilson,  sir,"  replied  Freddie.  "  I  un- 
derstand you  wished  to  see  Mrs.  Templeman ;  but 
she  is  unavoidably  absent.  I  can  tell  you  anything 
you  wish  to  know  concerning  the  school." 

"  It  is  not  that,"  said  the  Earl,  nervously;  "there 
is,  I  believe,  a  young  lady  here,  a  Miss  Trevanian — ' 

"  Oh,  you  are  her  guardian,  I  am  certain  !  "  cried 
Freddie,  joyously;  "  I'll  fetch  her  this  moment;  she'll 
be  so  delighted !  " 

"  Not  for  the  world !  "  he  exclaimed,  starting  for- 
ward as  if  to  prevent  her;  "  she  must  not  know  that 
I  am  here.  I  dare  .not  see  her." 

"  I  cannot  presume  to  judge  of  your  conduct,  sir, 
not  knowing  your  motives,"  said  Freddie,  gravely ; 
"  but  permit  me  to  say  that  I  do  not  think  you  do 
Miss  Trevanian  justice  in  denying  her  the  pleasure 
which  it  would  afford  her  to  see  you." 

"  No,"  he  replied,  with  a  sigh  so  deep  that  it  was 
almost  a  groan,  "  you  do  not  know  my  motives,  nor 
does  she.  They  never  can  be  known,  for  they  must 
go  with  me  to  the  grave.  Freda  will  think  me  ec- 
centric— mad,  perhaps.  But,  oh, .  young  lady,  can 
you  not  persuade  her  that  I  am  forced  to  act  as  I 
do ;  that  I  am  impelled  by  no  unworthy  or  dishonor- 
able impulse  ?  " 

"  No  persuasion  would  be  needed  to  convince 
Freda  of  that,"  said  Freddie ;  "  she  esteems  you  as 
the  very  soul  of  honor." 

"  Thank  you  for  that  comfort,"  he  said ;  "  the  re- 
membrance of  your  words  will  be  like  a  gleam  of 


BROUGHT    TO    BAY.  163 

light  in  my  dark  future.     And  is  she  well  ?     Is  she 
happy?  " 

"  She  is  well ;  but  not,  I  fear,  so  happy  as  she 
might  be." 

"  She  pines  for  society,  no  doubt,"  said  the  Earl, 
resolutely.  "  Mrs.  Templeman  has  promised  to  take 
her  out,  and  she  will  be  happy  in  a  gayer  life." 

"  She  has  refused  all  invitations  hitherto,"  said 
Freddie. 

"  That  cannot  last,"  said  he.  "  At  her  age,  plea- 
sure always  has  attractions.  She  will  meet  with 
some  one  who  will  make  life  bright  for  her,  and  God 
grant  he  may  be  worthy  of  her  love !  And  now  to 
the  business  on  which  I  came.  This  box,"  he  con- 
tinued, taking  the  jewel-case  from  his  valise,  "  con- 
tains some  articles  of  value  which  belonged  to  her 
mother.  Be  pleased  to  give  it  at  once  into  her  own 
hands.  And  this  .letter  will  explain  all  that  I  can 
explain.  Miss  Wilson,  will  you  be  as  a  sister  to  her  ?  " 

"  I  will,  indeed,  sir.  I  promise  it  freely,  for  I -love 
her  like  a  sister." 

"  She  is  so  inexperienced  in  the  world's  ways,"  he 
went  on,  "and"  she  may  need  a  counsellor,  even  a 
protector.  You  look  resolute  and  courageous —  " 

"  I  believe  my  looks  speak  truly,  then,"  said 
Freddie. 

"  You  will  hardly  believe  it  possible,"  continued 
the  Earl,  "  that  that  lovely  girl  can  have  a  mortal 
enemy.  I  hope  that,  in  placing  her  here,  I  have 
baffled  him ;  but  he  has  the  cunning  of  a  fox,  and 
the  pertinacity  of  a  bloodhound.  Give  me  a  sheet 


1 64  WINIFREDS    JEWELS. 

of  paper,  and  I  will  sketch  such  an  outline  of  his 
face  that  you  will  easily  recognize  him,  should  he 
track  her.  The  name  under  which  I  have  known 
him  is  Grainger — Captain  Grainger.  I  know  not  if 
it  be  his  true  name  or  not." 

Freddie  gave  him  some  paper,  and  with  a  few 
masterly  strokes  he  produced  an  excellent  likeness 
of  Captain  Grainger. 

"  He  has  lost  an  eye,"  he  said,  "  and  wears  a  glass 
one,  and  his  face  is  scarred  all  over.  He  says  it  was 
done  in  the  army.  Should  such  a  man  come  here, 
no  .matter  under  what  pretext,  his  true  motive  will 
be  robbery.  Hide  this  from  him,"  tapping  the  box  ; 
"  and  hurry  Freda  away  to  some  place  of  conceal- 
ment, or  safety.  Will  you  promise  me  this  ?  " 

"  I  will,"  replied  Freddie,  resolutely.  "  And  what 
is  more,  if  he  breaks  into  the  house  by  force,  I  will 
shoot  him.  Some  burglars  got  in  once,  and  ever 
since  I  have  slept  with  a  revolver  under  my  pil- 
low." 

"  That  sounds  well,"  said  the  Earl ;  "  but  could 
you  hit  a  mark  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  an  accomplishment  that  I  usually  boast 
of,"  said  Freddie,  modestly  ;  "  but  as  it  may  afford 
you  some  comfort  to  know  it,  I  will  tell  you  that  I 
had  an  opportunity,  once,  of  practising  a  good  deal, 
and  I  won  many  prizes.  But  I  think  the  best  thing 
Freda  could  do,  would  be  to  go  with  me  to 
America." 

"  To  America  !  "  he  repeated,  while  such  a  strange 
mingling  of  emotions  passed  over  his  face,  that 


BROUGHT    TO    BAY.  165 

Freddie  could  not  tell  whether  terror  or  joy  pre- 
dominated. 

"Yes,"  she  replied,  with  the  air  of  one  whose 
plans  were  all  settled  long  ago,  though  her  resolution 
had  only  been  finally  adopted  within  the  last  few 
minutes.  "  I  am  going  to  teach  in  the  schools  for 
the  poor  emancipated  negroes  in  South  Carolina; 
and  Freda  could  not  do  better  than  go,  too,  in  my 
opinion.  Shall  I  tell  her  that  you  support  my 
recommendation  ?  " 

"  My  opinion  can  no  longer  influence  her,"  said 
the  Earl,  sadly.  "  When  she  reads  that  letter,  she 
will  know  that  she  will  never  see  me  more." 

"  You  are  not  going  to  commit  suicide ! "  ex- 
claimed Freddie,  clutching  his  arm  with  a  vigor  that 
he  afterwards  recalled  with  astonishment. 

"  No ;  do  not  suppose  that  for  a  moment,"  he  an- 
swered, so  calmly,  that  her  fear  was  instantly  al- 
layed. "  You  and  Freda  must  be  satisfied  to  take 
my  assurance  that  I  am  doing  what  my  conscience 
tells  me  is  right.  Though  wholly  guiltless  in  this 
matter,  I  am  involved  in  a  net-work  of  falsity.  I 
cannot  break  out  of  this  openly,  without  bringing 
ruin  and  misery  upon  others.  Therefore,  I  withdraw 
myself  quietly  from  the  position,  and  shall  be  seen 
no  more." 

"  You  are  going  to  turn  monk,  and  bury  yourself 
alive  in  a  convent.  Perhaps  in  that  horrible  La 
Trappe !  " 

"  You  must  surmise  what  you  please.  Good-bye. 
Be  kind  to  Freda." 


i66  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

When  the  parlor  door  was  opened,  Freda's  voice 
was  heard  from  the  distant  room  where  the  two  girls 
had  been  sitting  when  Freddie  was  called  away  to 
the  Earl.  The  song  she  sang  was  one  of  Mrs.  He- 
mans', — that  wild,  plaintive  lament  of  the  Highland 
emigrants  about  to  leave  their  native  land  forever, 
and  the  wailing  notes  and  sorrowful  words,  "  We  re- 
turn no  more,"  fell  with  fearful  meaning  on  the  ears 
of  the  unhappy  man.  He  raised  his  hand,  entreat- 
ing silence,  and  listened  eagerly.  Freda  sang  with- 
out accompaniment,  and  her  sweet,  yet  powerful 
voice  vibrated  with  emotion,  for  her  soul  was  poured 
forth  in  every  note.  The  Earl  leaned  against  the 
door-post,  and  Freddie  saw  that  his  whole  frame 
trembled,  and  she  heard  his  tears  as  they  dropped 
upon  the  flo.or. 

"Let  me  call  her!"  she  whispered,  in  a  broken 
voice. 

"  No — no !  "  he  answered,  "  if  it  costs  my  life,  I 
must  be  firm." 

He  staggered  to  the  door. 

Freddie  accompanied  him.  When  he  had  passed 
outside,  she  offered  him  her  hand,  and  held  his  in  a 
firm  grip  for  a  moment. 

"  You  have  asked  me  many  questions,"  she  said, 
at  last,  in  a  low,  hurried  tone ;  "  will  you  answer  me 
one,  or  perhaps  two,  and  if  they  offend  you,  I  can- 
not help  it." 

"I  will  answer  them  if  I  can,"  he  replied. 

"  Are  you  married  ?  " 

"  No;  on  my  soul,  I  am  not !  " 


BROUGHT    TO    BAY. 


167 


"  Is  there  insanity  in  your  family  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Good-night."  And  the  strange  girl  stepped  back 
and  closed  the  door. 

"Then  they  will  meet  again,"  she  said  to  herself, 
as  she  walked  slowly  to  the  room  where  she  had  left 
her  friend.  "  I  am  sure  of  it.  He  is  not  going  to  kill 
himself,  and  he  has  too  much  sense  to  become  a 
monk.  What  else  he  means  to  do,  I  cannot  imagine. 
But  he  will  be  alive  somewhere,  and  if  he  does  not 
turn  up  in  South  Carolina  before  very  long,  he  is 
more  of  a  fool  than  I  take  him  to  be.  I  have  bound 
myself  to  go  to  South  Carolina  now,  just  because 
it  was  the  first  State  I  thought  of.  at  the  moment. 
Poor  Freda !  How  it  will  grieve  her  to  know  that 
he  has  been  here,  and  is  gone  without  seeing  her!  It 
is  a  painful  task  to  tell  her,  but  it  must  be  done." 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

AN    EXIT,    AND   AN    ENTRANCE. 

AFTER  travelling  all  night,  the  Earl  reached  Lon- 
don in  the  early  dawn. 

Leaving  his  valise  at  the  station,  he  sought  out 
one  of  those  clothing  stores  where  every  article  of 
dress  can  be  obtained  on  the  shortest  notice.  There 
he  purchased  a  suit  of  strong  dark  grey  cloth,  suit- 
able either  for  a  mechanic,  or  for  a  gentleman  going 
on  a  pedestrian  tour.  A  pair  of  boots,  a  few  strong 
shirts  and  socks,  and  various  other  necessary  arti- 
cles, including  a  leather  purse,  were  packed  into  a 
carpet-bag.  He  added  to  these  a  stout  walking- 
stick,  and  took  a  cab  to  London  Bridge  Station. 
A  train  was  just  starting  for  Brighton,  in  which  he 
secured  a  place,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  being 
alone  in  a  first-class  carriage. 

He  left  the  train  unnoticed  among  the  crowds 
who  were  pouring  out  in  spite  of  the  unfavorable 
weather,  for  it  was  misty,  and  a  drizzling  rain  was 
falling,  and,  avoiding  the  town,  walked  quickly  to  a 
part  of  the  shore  which  he  knew  well  in  former 
times.  It  was  about  a  mile  from  Brighton,  and  was 
easily  distinguished  by  a  rather  bold  projection  of 
cliff. 

1 63 


AN    EXIT,     AND    AN    ENTRANCE.  169 

He  sat  down  on  the  shingly  beach,  at  the  base  of 
this  cliff,  and  looked  carefully  around  him.  As  he 
could  not  distinguish  any  object  twenty  yards  off,  it 
was  very  unlikely  that  he  himself  would  be  observed, 
even  should  any  one  be  loitering  about  in  his  vicinity. 
He  therefore  proceeded  at  once  with  the  work  he 
had  in  hand.  In  the  first  place,  he  half  buried  the 
carpet-bag  in  the  sand,  and  then  covered  it  com- 
pletely with  shingle  and  sea-weed,  placing  a  large 
light-colored  stone  on  the  top  to  distinguish  it  from 
other  heaps.  He  next  transferred  from  his  own 
purse  to  the  new  one,  the  sum  of  about  two  hundred 
pounds,  and  buried  that  at  a  short  distance,  placing 
marks  about  it  with  great  care. 

This  done,  he  walked  down  the  beach,  and  sur- 
veyed the  spot  from  the  border  of  the  sea.  Hav- 
ing by  this  means  impressed  all  the  landmarks 
upon  his  memory,  he  went  back  to  the  station,  took 
the  next  train  to  London,  fetched  his  valise  from  the 
Great  Western  Station,  where  he  had  left  it,  and 
suddenly  recollected  that  he  had  eaten  nothing  since 
the  previous  day.  He  called  a  cab,  and  drove  to  his 
club.  ; 

"  This  is  a  good  opportunity,"  he  said  to  himself, 
"  to  block  out  any  unpleasant  stories  about  suicide, 
or  desponding  state  of  mind,  or  any  such  humbug." 

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  plan  he  mentally 
laid  down,  he  greeted  with  more  than  his  usual 
cordiality  and  cheerfulness  every  acquaintance  he 
met  at  the  club.  He  talked  freely  upon  general 
subjects,  and  even  extended  to  one  or  two  such  an 


170  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

invitation  to  Tytherleigh  as  was  conveyed  in  the 
expression  that  he  would  be  happy  to  show  them 
his  stock  of  short-horns,  if  they  thought  it  worth 
while  to  run  down.  He  talked  also  of  his  intended 
visit  to  Brighton,  and  his  longing  for  a  half-mile's 
swim  in  the  sea. 

It  was  evening  when  he  reached  Brighton.  He 
went  to  one  of  the  largest  hotels,  and  found  that 
there  was  no  room  there.  This  he  understood  to 
imply,  "  no  room  for  a  man  who  brought  only  a 
small  valise,  and  carried  that  himself."  The  presen- 
tation of  his  card  proved  that  he  was  right  in  his 
conjecture,  for  one  of  the  best  rooms  in  the  house 
was  immediately  discovered  to  be  vacant.  He  took 
possession  of  it,  and  strolled  out  on  the  beach. 

The  weather  had  cleared  up  since  morning,  and 
the  sea  was  dancing  and  sparkling  in  the  level  rays 
of  the  setting  sun. 

When  he  reached  the  bathing  place  he  found  the 
machines  were  all  drawn  up.  There  was  no  one  in 
the  water.  The  men  in  charge  of  the  machines  were 
about  going  home. 

j  The  Earl's  request  for  a  bath  was  answered  by 
"  Too  late,  sir.  We've  done  for  to-day."  A  hand- 
some gratuity,  however,  wrought  an  immediate 
change  in  their  views.  One  of  the  lumbering  boxes 
was  pushed  out  to  the  sea,  and  the  Earl  entered. 

Strange  and  conflicting  were  the  emotions  that 
filled  his  breast.  The  irrevocable  step  was  not  yet 
taken.  Should\it  take  it  ?  he  asked  himself.  Should 
he  not  rather  keep  the  rank  and  wealth  which  the 


AN    EXIT,    AND    AN    ENTRANCE.  171 

law  gave  him,  and  which  there  was  no  one  to  dispute 
with  him  ?  Should  he  not  return  to  Freda — woo 
her — marry  her — place  a  coronet  on  her  brow,  and 
see  his  children  growing  up  around  him  ?  Had  he 
not  suffered  enough  to  expiate  another's  fault  ? 

No,  answered  conscience,  sternly;  not  while  he 
held  that  to  which  he  had  no  right.  Had  he  found 
it  so  agreeable  to  act  the  part  of  an  embodied  lie, 
that  he  must  drag  the  noble  and  innocent  Freda 
down  to  share  it  with  him  ?  The  course  he  had 
determined  to  adopt  was  the  only  honorable  one, 
and  he  would  carry  it  out,  or  die  in  the  effort. 

He  began  to  undress.  It  was  strange  how  every 
garment,  as  he  removed  it,  assumed  the  character 
of  an  old  friend,  and  roused  a  feeling  of  regret  at 
parting  with  it.  Yet  it  was  not  the  clothes  them- 
selves, but  the  past  life  and  associations  which  they 
represented  that  aroused  the  sentiment.  His  watch  ! 
How  well  he  remembered  the  time  when  he  bought 
it !  It  was  a  few  days  before  that  which  was  to  have 
been  his  wedding  day.  As  he  looked  at  it  his  eye 
was  caught  by  a  small  gold  key  that  was  attached  to 
the  chain.  It  was  the  key  of  Freda's  jewel  case*! 
In  his  agitation  he  had  forgotten  to  leave  it  for 
her! 

What  could  be  done  ?  To  send  it  to  her  now  was 
impossible ;  to  leave  it  was  equally  so.  He  would 
keep  it !  It  would  be  a  link  between  her  and  him — 
a  link  to  bind  him  still  to  humanity.  He  tore  a  strip 
from  his  handkerchief,  and  tied  the  key  round  his 
neck.  Yet  another  moment  he  lingered,  gazing 


172  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

round  to  see  if  there  was  any  other  thing  that  he 
had  overlooked. 

In  this  pause  he  heard  some  one  ask  the  bath  men 
if  they  knew  the  name  of  the  gentleman  who  was 
bathing  so  late.  It  was  strange  that  during  the 
whole  of  this  agitating  day  he  had  hardly  bestowed 
a  thought  upon  Captain  Grainger;  and  here  he  was, 
inquiring  for  him ! 

With  a  feeling  of  joy  that  he  was  about  to  elude 
him  forever,  the  Earl  dashed  into  the  water,  and 
swam  straight  away  from  the  shore. 

There  was  no  moon,  and  the  sun  set  among  clouds 
which  made  the  twilight  short.  When  the  swimmer 
could  no  longer  discern  the'  men  on  shore,  he 
shouted  for  help,  and  struck  out  vigorously  on  a 
course  at  right  angles  from  that  which  he  had 
hitherto  pursued. 

About  two  hours  after  the  Earl  had  disappeared, 
and  while  boats,  with  lighted  flambeaux,  were  still 
rowing  about,  seeking  for  his  dead  body,  a  man 
dressed  in  a  suit  of  dark  grey  tweed,  with  a  cap  of 
the  same,  and  a  carpet  bag  slung  over  his  shoulder, 
entered  a  country  station  a  few  miles  from  Brighton, 
and  asked  if  there  was  a  train  to  Southampton  that 
night. 

The  drowsy  station  master  answered  that  there 
would  be  one  up  in  half  an  hour;  whereupon  the 
man  took  a  third-class  ticket,  and  ensconced  him- 
self in  a  corner,  where  he  appeared  to  fall  asleep,  till 
the  train  came  lumbering  up,  and  he  departed. 

WJien  he  arrived  at  Southampton,  he  sought  out 


AN    EXIT,    AND    AN    ENTRANCE.  173 

a  small  public  house,  such  as  would  be  patronized 
by  mechanics  and  workmen,  where  he  ordered  sup- 
per and  a  bed. 

His  sleep  that  night,  in  a  small,  scantily-furnished 
room,  on  a  hard  coarse  bed,  was  deep  and  dreamless. 
He  was  troubled  by  no  anxious  doubts;  his  soul 
was  torn  by  no  conflicts  between  the  temptations 
of  love  and  happiness  on  the  one  side,  and  the  stern 
dictates  of  conscience  on  the  other.  His  body  was 
wearied  by  great  exertion  and  the  wear  and  tear 
of  strong  mental  excitement;  but  his  mind  was  at 
rest.  It  might  be  the  calm  of  apathy,  but  it  was 
calm. 

No  one  asked  his  name  when  he  went  away  in 
the  morning.  He  had  paid  his  bill,  and  that  was 
all  that  was  required  of  him.  He  walked  down  to 
the  docks,  and  after  looking  at  the  various  steamers 
lying  there,  he  asked  an  old  salt  which  vessel  would 
sail  first. 

"  The  '  Roarer,'  "  he  replied  ;  "  yonder  she  lays. 
She's  getting  up  her  steam  now,  and  she'll  be  off  in 
about  an  hour." 

"  Where  is  she  going  ?  "  asked  the  man  in  grey. 

"  Meriky,"  replied  the  tar,  squirting  out  his 
tobacco-juice,  as  though  the  very  name  of  that  land 
of  chewers  had  affected  his  salivary  glands. 

The  man  in  grey  passed  on,  found  a  boat  just 
carrying  passengers  to  the  "  Aurora,"  went  on  board, 
and  engaged  a  berth  in  the  steerage. 

When  asked  his  name,  he  said  it  was  Rupert 
Forester. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 
FREDDIE'S  SKELETON  IN  THE  CLOSET. 

FREDA  had  resumed  her  plaintive  song  when 
Freddie  came  back  to  the  parlor.  She  was  sitting 
at  an  open  window  that  looked  out  on  the  side  gar- 
den, so  that  she  could  not  see  the  visitor  as  he  de- 
parted. 

Freddie  stood  with  the  box  in  her  hands,  uncer- 
tain how  to  communicate  her  distressing  news. 
Freda  was  not  conscious  of  her  presence,  but  sat 
with  her  lovely  eyes  fixed  on  the  fast-darkening 
scene  without,  and  her  thoughts  with  him  whose 
footsteps  she  could  almost  hear,  as  he  hurried  away 
from  her. 

Unable  to  control  her  feelings  any  longer,  Fred- 
die sat  down  and  began  to  cry. 

"  My  darling  Freddie  !  What  is  amiss  ? "  ex- 
claimed Freda,  stopping  short  in  her  song,  and 
springing  to  the  side  of  her  weeping  companion. 
"Have  you  heard  bad  news  of  Mrs.  Templeman? 
Ah  !  That  box  !  Did  he  bring  it  ?  Where  is  he  ? 
Oh,  tell  me,  quick — where  is  he  ?  " 

"  A  gentleman  brought  it,"  answered  Freddie, 
making  a  strong  effort  to  control  her  sobs.  "  Stop ! 
174 


FREDDIE'S    SKELETON  IN    THE    CLOSET.    175 

stop !  dear  Freda ;  it's  of  no  use  running  to  the  par- 
lor. He  is  not  there." 

"Tell  me — tell  me — who  was  he?  Not  Rupert! 
He  would  not  go  away  without  seeing  me !  " 

"  He  gave  no  name ;  but  he  was  your  guardian, 
Freda." 

"  And  he  did  not  wish  to  see  me ! "  said  Freda, 
her  fine  eyes  flashing  with  indignation. 

"  If  you  could  have  seen  his  grief,  and  the  strug- 
gle that  he  had  to  do  what  he  knew  was  right, 
though  it  was  so  hard  for  him,  you  would  not  feel 
angry  with  him,  Freda.  And  when  he  heard  you 
singing  that  plaintive  song,  I  thought  his  heart 
v/ould  break.  I  heard  his  tears  patter  like  rain  upon 
the  floor." 

"  Oh,  why  was  he  so  cruel  to  himself  and  me  ?  " 
sobbed  Freda. 

"  I  do  not  know  why.  He  would  not  tell  me. 
But  of  this  I  am  certain,  Freda ;  it  is  nothing  wrong 
nor  dishonorable  that  makes  him  act  in  this  ap- 
parently cruel  manner." 

The  warm  pressure  of  Freda's  hand  bespoke  her 
gratitude  for  this  defence  of  the  man  she  loved. 

"  He  said  that  if  you  could  know  all  the  circum- 
stances, you  would  entirely  approve  of  what  he  has 
done,  and  is  going  to  do ;  which  is,  to  disappear  al- 
together, and  be  seen  no  more." 

"Not  to  kill  himself!"  said 'Freda,  in  a  horrified 
whisper. 

"  No,  no — certainly  not  that.  It  is  very  strange, 
very  mysterious.  But  mystery  does  not  necessarily 


176  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

imply  guilt,  or  even  error.  Though  I  have  seen  him 
but  once,  I  will  never  believe  any  evil  of  him.  I  am 
sure  that  he  is  good  and  noble.  Here  is  a  letter 
that  he  gave  me  for  you,  Freda,  and  here  is  your 
box.  I  will  get  a  light,  and  then  I  will  tell  you 
what  more  he  said  to  me."  x 

When  the  lamp  was  brought  in,  Freda  eagerly 
opened  the  letter.  She  perused  it  two  or  three 
times,  and  then  handed  it  to  her  companion. 

"  Read  it,  Freddie,"  she  said;  "  I  cannot  under- 
stand it !  I  cannot  believe  that  he  means  what  he 
says !  " 

FREDA,  MY  BELOVED  CHILD  : — It  is  with  feelings  of  unutter- 
able grief  that  I  tell  you  I  must  never  more  look  upon  your  dear 
face.  I  am  compelled  to  leave  all  that  is  most  precious  to  me,  and 
wander,  an  exile,  to  some  distant  part  of  the  earth.  Where  that  will 
be  I  cannot  tell  you,  for  I  know  it  not  myself.  I  have  resolved  to 
trust  the  decision  to  chance,  or  Providence,  by  sailing  in  the  very  first 
vessel  that  leaves  England,  after  my  arrival  at  a  certain  port.  I 
suffer  for  no  fault,  nor  even  error,  of  my  own.  I  am  crushed  down 
by  a  burthen  that  was  laid  upon  me  before  my  birth.  My  very  exist- 
ence has  been  a  fraud  upon  others ;  yet  I  cannot  openly  throw  off 
this  entanglement  of  falsity  without  bringing  ruin  upon  many  inno- 
cent heads.  Honor  and  honesty  alike  demand  that  I  should  no 
longer  hold  a  name  and  property  which  are  not  rightfully  mine ;  and 
by  a  supposed  death  all  is  made  clear,  and  I  alone  am  the  sacrifice. 

You  doubtless  remember  the  case  of  jewels,  which  I  shall  leave, 
with  this  letter,  in  Mrs.  Templeman's  charge.  I  have  guarded 
them  for  you,  loyally.  They  were  your  mother's,  and  she'  designed 
them  for  your  dowry. 

A  person  calling  himself  Captain  Grainger  has  laid  claim  to  them, 
on  the  grounds  that  your  father  left  them  to  him  by  will.  But  this 
cannot  be,  for  they  did  not  belong  to  your  father.  Should  this  man, 
Grainger,  discover  your  present  abode,  and  renew  his  efforts  to  ob- 


FREDDIE'S    SKELETON  IN    THE    CLOSET.    177 

tain  them,  I  think  you  had  better  appeal  to  the  law  for  protection. 
Tell  Mrs.  Templeman  all,  and  she  will  advise  you. 

A  law-suit  might  bring  some  things  to  light  which  now  are  hidden  ; 
but  whatever  you  may  discover,  I  trust  to  your  honor  to  keep  in 
your  own  breast. 

I  go  forth  now  a  solitary  exile,  carrying  with  me  from  my  old 
life  nothing  but  a  clear  conscience,  and  some  tender  memories  of  the 
little  girl  whom  I  carried  out  of  the  burning  house.  I  take  nothing 
— not  even  a  name ;  except  that  I  still  am,  and  ever  shall  be, 

Your  RUPERT. 

Freddie  read  this  aloud,  and  sat  staring  at  Freda, 
while  a  hundred  different  fancies  were  working  in 
her  brain. 

"  What  do  you  make  of  it,  dear  ? "  asked  Freda, 
in  a  tone  of  despondency. 

"  Make !  "  repeated  Freddie ;  "  I  make  so  many 
things  of  it  that  my  mind  is  in  a  perfect  confu- 
sion. This  I  am  sure  of,  however — you  will  meet 
again." 

"  You  are  too  sanguine,  Freddie.  /  feel  sure  that 
we  have  parted  for  ever.  What  chance  is  there  that, 
in  this  wild,  desolate  world,  we  should  ever  meet 
again?"  . 

"  There  are  a  great  many  chances,"  returned 
Freddie,  resolutely.  "I  told  him,  for  one  thing,  that 
I  was  going  to  America,  and  that  I  would  try  to  per- 
suade you  to  go  with  me,  if  Captain  Grainger 
should  trouble  you." 

Freda's  face  brightened  for  a  moment,  but  was  as 
quickly  overcast. 

"  That  first  ship  that  he  talks  of  may  take  him  to 
Australia,"  she  said,  with  a  sigh. 


178  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  Supposing  it  should  take  him  to  Australia  or 
China,  or  anywhere  else,  are  there  not  plenty  of 
other  ships,  sailing  from  everywhere  else  to  Amer- 
ica ?  " 

"  But,  Freddie  dear,  what  can  you  be  dreaming 
about  ?  In  such  an  immense  country  as  America,  is 
it  likely,  is  it  possible,  that  he  could  find  out  two  un- 
known strangers  ?  " 

"  I  had  the  presence  of  mind  to  confine  myself  to 
a  State  and  an  occupation,"  replied  Freddie,  de- 
murely, for  she  was  conscious  that  in  this  instance 
her  conduct  had  not  been  wholly  disinterested.  "  I 
told  him  I  was  going  to  South  Carolina,  to  teach  the 
poor,  ignorant  black  people." 

"  And  are  you  going,  Freddie  ?  "  demanded  Freda, 
in  amazement.  "  You  never  mentioned  such  an  idea 
to  me  before." 

"  I  have  thought  of  it  for  six  months  or  more,"  an- 
swered Freddie,  "  but  I  only  decided  upon  it  while 
your  guardian  was  talking  to  me.  There  was  no 
time  for  reflection,  you  see,  Freda.  There  was  he, 
just  ready  to  fly  off  at  a  tangent,  or  disappear  from 
the  face  of  the  earth  like  a  vapor,  and  nobody  able 
to  say  where  he  was,  nor  even  who  he  was.  Our  only 
chance  depended  upon  my  being  able,  on  the  in- 
stant, to  throw  out  a  bait  which  he  might  return  to 
after  wandering  about  a  while,  and  coming  to  his 
senses.  I  knew  he  would  never  return  to  England, 
so  I  named  the  place  about  which  I  had  been 
thinking." 

"  I  don't  desire  to  pry  into  his  secrets,"  said  Freda, 


FREDDIES    SKELETON   IN    THE    CLOSET.    179 

with  her  eyes  fixed  abstractedly  upon  the  letter, 
"  for  which  reason  I  will  never  consent  to  secure 
my  right  to  my  mother's  jewels  by  appealing  to  the 
law,  which,  he  says,  might  bring  to  light  some  cir- 
cumstances which  he  has  not  thought  fit  to  tell  me 
himself.  But,  O  Freddie,  my  heart  sinks  when  I 
reflect  that  all  this  mystery  and  misery  may  arise 
from  his  having  contracted  an  uncongenial  marriage, 
as  you  suggested  that  evening  when  first  I  told  you 
about  him." 

"  Would  his  own  word  satisfy  you  on  that  point?  " 
inquired  Freddie. 

"  How  can  you  ask  such  a  question  ?  Do  you 
imagine  I  could  doubt  his  word  ?  " 

"  Then  you  may  rest  satisfied  that  he  is  not  mar- 
ried, for  I  asked  him  the  question,  point  blank,  and 
his  answer  was,  '  No,  on  my  soul,  I  am  not.'  " 

"  You  asked  him  that ! "  exclaimed  Freda.  "  O 
Freddie,  how  could  you  be  so  indelicate !  " 

"  There  was  no  indelicacy  at  all  about  it,"  an- 
swered Freddie.  "  I  had  seen  him  weep  as  he  lis- 
tened to  your  singing ;  he  had  as  good  as  told  me 
that  he  loved  you,  and  his  emotion,  on  tearing  him- 
self away  without  seeing  you,  was  so  violent  that  he 
staggered  in  his  walk.  Now,  it  just  turned  upon 
two  questions,  whether,  in  striving  to  re-unite  you, 
I  should  be  doing  a  great  wrong,  or  helping  to  re-\ 
move  one.  These  two  questions  were :  was  he  mar- 
ried, and  was  there  insanity  in  his  family  ?  There 
was  but  a  moment  in  which  to  make  up  my  mind, 
and  to  ask  them,  and  I  had  to  make  that  moment 


iSo  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

by  holding  his  hand  fast.  But  I  did  ask  them,  and 
to  both  he  emphatically  answered  '  No.'  Now,  where 
was  the  indelicacy,  and  what  harm  is  there  done  ?  " 

Freda  responded  by  clasping  her  friend  in  her 
arms  and  sobbing  on  her  shoulder. 

"  You  acted  wisely  and  kindly,  my  best  Freddie," 
she  whispered,  humbly. 

"  You  have  not  looked  into  your  jewel  case  yet," 
suggested  Freddie,  wishing  to  divert  the  conversa- 
tion ;  "  there  may  be  another  letter  inside." 

"  True,  there  may  be,"  said  Freda,  wiping  away 
her  tears.  "  Where  is  the  key  ?  Mamma  used  to 
keep  it  tied  to  the  handle." 

The  strictest  search  failed  to  discover  it.  It  was 
neither  attached  to  the  box,  nor  was  it  in  the  envel- 
ope of  the  letter.  • 

"  Now,  I  remember,"  said  Freda,  "  that  I  have 
often  seen  a  key  exactly  similar  to  it  attached  to 
Rupert's  watch  chain.  No  doubt  it  was  the  same, 
but  he  forgot  to  give  it  to  you.  O  Freddie,  darling, 
perhaps  he  will  come  back  with  it ! " 

"I  dare  not  hope  that,"  said  Freddie;  "time  was 
evidently  very  precious  with  him.  Can  the  lock  be 
easily  picked,  do  you  think  ?  " 

"  That  is  impossible,  for  it  is  one  of  Chubb's  very 
best ;  and  the  box,  though  it  looks  so  delicate,  is 
exceedingly  strong.  Mamma  showed  it  to  me  one 
day,  and  explained  all  about  it.  How  shall  we  get 
it  open  ?  " 

"  Don't  try,"  said  Freddie,  looking  quite  inspired ; 
"  keep  it  just  as  it  is.  He  will  discover  that  he  still 


FREDDIE'S    SKELETON  IN    THE    CLOSET.    181 

has  the  key,  and  some  time  or  other  he  will  bring 
it  to  you.  Time  will  allay  the  excitement  of  his 
feelings ;  he  will  take  a  soberer  view  of  the  difficulty, 
whatever  it  is,  that  now  interposes  between  you  and 
him ;  and  he  will  avail  himself  of  the  excuse  afforded 
by  the  key,  to  hover  about  and  have  a  look  at  you, 
if  nothing  more.  Then,  if  once  I  get  hold  of  him, 
he  wont  escape  very  easily!  " 

"You  are  so  kind  and  sympathetic,  Freddie,"  said 
Freda,  smiling  affectionately  on  her  energetic  friend, 
"  that  I  really  believe  you  fancy  you  can  become  a 
giantess  in  my  cause.  Most  fervently  do  I  hope 
that  the  course  of  your  love  may  be  smoother  than 
mine." 

"  I  shall  never  love,"  replied  Freddie,  almost  sadly; 
"  that  is,  I  must  not  expect  to  be  loved." 

"  What,  you,  so  lovely  and  lovable  as  you  are  !  " 

"  You  think  you  are  the  only  one  who  has  a 
skeleton  locked  up  in  a  closet,"  said  Freddie,  with  a 
half  comical,  half  sorrowful  expression ;  "  but,  I  as- 
sure you,  I  have  an  awful  one.  I  have  kept  it  care- 
fully out  of  sight  hitherto ;  but  now,  I  think  I  will 
trot  it  out  for  your  edification.  My  skeleton,  you 
must  know,  is  clothed  with  a  horrible  set  of  muscles, 
as  strong  as  iron.  You  will  promise  secresy?" 

"  Certainly  I  will,"  replied  Freda,  looking  slightly 
alarmed. 

"  Then,  what  do  you  think  of  this  ?  "  And  Fred- 
die, starting  up,  lifted  her  companion  by  the  waist, 
and  poised  her  with  the  utmost  ease,  first  on  both 
hands,  and  then  upon  one,  at  arm's  length,  above 


1 82  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

her  head.  Then,  setting  her  down,  she  resumed  her 
own  seat  with  perfect  composure. 

"  It  is  my  misfortune,"  she  said,  sadly,  "  to  be 
stronger  than  most  men." 

"  But,  Freddie,"  exclaimed  Freda,  recovering  from 
her  amazement,  "  how  did  you  do  it  ?  " 

"  Just  as  any  other  fellow*  would ;  but  that  is 
nothing  to  what  I  can  do.  This  fatal  gift  is  my 
skeleton.  It  is  of  no  use  to  me ;  and  if  it  were  not 
for  the  work  I  do  in  the  garden,  it  would  be  a  tor- 
ment to  me,  for  it  naturally  demands  more  exercise 
than  a  young  lady  is  likely  to  get  in  the  course  of  a 
fashionable  education." 

"  I  cannot  understand  how  it  can  be,"  said  Freda, 
clasping  Freddie's  arm;  "your  arm  is  round  and  soft, 
and  your 'hand  is  graceful  and  womanly,  yet  you 
lifted  me  as  if  I  were  a  doll." 

"  Which  proves  that  I  am  a  mere  lump  of  decep- 
tion," replied  Freddie,  clenching  her  fist  till  the 
muscles  of  her  arm  felt  like  iron ;  "  but,  apart  from 
the  deceitful  appearance,  do  you  suppose  any  man 
could  love,  far  less  venture  to  marry  a  woman  who 
could  knock  him  down,  if  he  offended  her ;  and  set 
his  lawful  authority  at  defiance,  not  by  strength  of 
will  alone,  for  that's  common  enough,  but  by  fair 
strength  of  muscle  ?  " 

"  No  true  man  will  love  you  the  less  for  this  won- 
derful gift,  darling  Freddie ;  especially  as  you  make 
no  unfeminine  use  or  exhibition  of  it." 

"  Do  you  think  it  would  be  unfeminine  to  exhibit 
it — in  a  public  circus,  for  instance?" 


FREDDIE'S    SKELETON    IN    THE    CLOSET.    183 

"  Oh,  dreadful !  Don't  speak  of  such  a  horror !  " 
cried  Freda,  shrinking,  as  it  were,  into  herself. 

"  If  that  is  the  light  in  which  you  view  it,"  said 
Freddie,  moving  to  another  seat,  so  as  no  longer  to 
be  in  loving  contact  with  her  friend,  "  I  must  tell 
you  the  history  of  my  life.  I  desire  most  earnestly 
that  you  should  go  with  me  to  South  Carolina ;  but 
you  must  not  go  in  ignorance  of  what  may  greatly 
alter  your  opinion  of  me." 

"Do  you  think  I  am  so  fickle,  Freddie?  Nothing 
can  alter  my  opinion  of  you." 

"  Don't  be  too  sure  of  that,"  said  Freddie ;  and, 
without  further  preamble,  she  related  all  that  had 
occurred  after  her  flight  from  Miss  Crabtree's 
tyranny  till  her  arrival  at  Mrs.  Templeman's. 

Freda  listened  in  silence.  When  the  narrative 
was  concluded,  she  exclaimed,  "I  knew  that  nothing 
could  lower  you  in  my  opinion,  Freddie.  You  are 
like  fine  gold,  that  passes  through  the  fire  and  comes 
out  even  purer  than  before.  I  will  go  with  you  to 
America ;  and,  so  far  from  thinking  you  unfeminine 
for  possessing  this  beautiful  gift  of  strength,  I  shall 
feel  happy  in  knowing  that  you  can  protect  me  from 
danger." 

"And  I,"  said  Freddie,  sadly,  "must  be  thankful 
for  the  strength  and  the  courage  which  it  imparts, 
and  which  enable  me  to  be  your  protector.  But,  ah, 
Freda,  you  cannot  imagine  how  I  long  and  yearn 
sometimes  to  enjoy  the  feeling  of  being  protected ! 
It  is  so  much  more  womanly.  However,"  she  added, 
rousing  herself  up  and  throwing  aside  her  despon- 


1 84 


WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 


dency,  "  it's  of  no  use  to  lament  over  what  cannot  be 
altered ;  so,  let  us  talk  about  business.  As  we  are 
of  one  mind  about  going  to  America,  the  only  ques- 
tion is,  when  shall  we  go  ?  " 

"  I  think  it  would  be  well  to  go  before  Captain 
Grainger  pays  us  a  visit,"  said  Freda. 

"  Exactly  my  idea ;  and  we  will  not  stop  to  in- 
quire whether  it  is  to  avoid  Captain  Grainger,  or  to 
be  in  the  way  of  meeting  with  Mr.  Rupert.  Then,  I 
propose  that  we  begin  packing  to-morrow,  so  as  to 
be  ready  to  set  off  soon  after  Mrs.  Templeman  re- 
turns. Poor  Mrs.  Templeman  !  I  shall  be  sorry  to 
leave  her;  but  if  that  son  of  hers  comes  here,  we 
shall  neither  of  us  be  able  to  stay.  And  now,  dear, 
let  us  go  to  bed.  It  is  late  already,  and  we  shall 
have  plenty  to  do  to-morrow  in  preparing  for  our 
journey." 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

SUDDEN    MOVEMENTS. 

THE  two  girls  proceeded  cheerfully  with  their  task, 
the  following  day ;  but  with  so  little  hurry — for  the 
post  had  brought  no  letter  from  Mrs.  Templeman, 
and  they  could  not  leave  before  she  came  home — 
that  their  operations  were  not  quite  completed  when 
the  evening  mail  brought  a  letter  to  Freddie  that 
filled  them  with  grief  and  consternation.  It  was 
dated  from  the  house  where  Mrs.  Templeman  had 
been  lodging  since  she  was  summoned  to  London 
by  her  son's  severe  attack  of  sickness ;  but  the 
writing  was  not  in  her  hand. 

Freddie  read  it  aloud  : 

MADAM, — Mrs.  Templeman  desired  me  to  write  to  you  two  days 
ago,  to  tell  you  that  she  was  taken  very  ill ;  but  before  I  had  time  to 
do  so  she  became  so  much  worse  that  I  had  not  a  moment's  leisure 
until  now.  We  called  in  the  best  medical  advice,  and  did  every- 
thing we  could  for  her.  I  was  up  with  her  two  nights  and  never 
left  her  all  yesterday,  but  she  had  one  attack  after  another,  getting 
worse  all  the  time,  and  died  at  half-past  five  this  morning. 

The  doctors  say  her  complaint  was  spasms  of  the  heart,  brought 
on  by  grief  and  trouble  ;  and  /say  it  was  all  caused  by  the  wicked- 
ness of  her  son.  If  you  loved  her,  Miss  Wilson,  as  from  what  she 
said  of  you  I  am  led  to  think  you  did,  you  will  thank  Our  Merciful 

185 


186  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

Father  for  removing  her  from  a  world  of  sorrow,  where  she  has  long 
enjoyed  nothing  but  misery,  and  had  no  prospect  of  anything  better 
for  the  future. 

Mr.  Ernest  Templeman  is  that  wicked  that  I  could  almost  have 
believed  he  was  possessed  of  a  devil ;  and  his  dear  bosom  friend, 
named  Captain  Grainger,  is  almost  worse,  being  old  enough  to  know 
better,  and  as  ugly  as  sin,  which  I  could  really  believe  him  to  be  the 
Evil  One  himself. 

Poor  dear  Mrs.  T.  was  very  anxious  about  the  two  young  ladies 
she  had  left  at  home,  and  spoke  of  you  whenever  she  was  at  all  her- 
self, between  the  fits  of  pain.  She  wished  you  both  to  leave  the 
house  as  soon  as  possible,  so  that  her  son  should  not  find  you  there 
when  he  went  down,  which  was  a  dreadful  thing  for  a  mother  to 
have  to  say. 

I  must  tell  you  that  his  sickness  was  all  a  pretence.  He  was  not 
sick  at  all  when  he  sent  for  her.  It  was  just  a  plot  between  him 
and  that  Captain  Grainger  to  get  money  out  of  her,  and  when  he 
found  it  would  not  do,  he  came  blustering  here  and  worried  and 
frightened  her  into  the  illness  that  resulted  in  her  death. 

If  I  can  tell  you  anything  more  I  shall  be  happy  to  do  so,  but  I 
cannot  think  of  anything  at  present,  being  quite  ill  myself  with  all  I 
have  gone  through  these  last  few  days.  I  hope  you  will  have 
plenty  of  time  to  get  away,  for  I  cannot  but  suppose  he  will  have 
the  decency  to  wait  till  the  funeral  is  over. 

I  remain,  Madam,  your  obedient  servant, 

MATILDA  WYBROW. 


The  two  friends  looked  at  each  other  for  a  few 
moments,  unable  to  speak  for  the  conflict  of  emotions 
that  rushed  through  their  minds.  Then  Freddie, 
starting  up,  crushed  the  letter  into  her  pocket,  and 
said,  in  a  low,  steady  voice  :  "  Finish  your  packing 
quickly,  Freda.  I'll  take  the  trunks  through  the 
kitchen  garden  to  the  door  that  opens  on  the  lane. 
They'll  be  safe  there,  as  the  garden  is  always  locked, 
and  I  have  the  keys.  He  II  not  stop  for  his  mother's 


SUDDEN    MOVEMENTS.  187 

funeral.  We  shall  have  him  here  to-night.  I  am 
sure  of  it." 

"  You  take  down  these  heavy  trunks,  Freddie? 
How  is  that  possible  ?  Oh,  let  us  leave  them,  and 
go  !  For  heaven's  sake,  let  us  go  !  " 

"  I'll  not  leave  them,"  replied  Freddie ;  "  you  can 
lock  the  door  while  I  am  gone,  and  open  it  to  no  one 
but  me.  I  will  not  abandon  you,  even  if  they  should 
come  while  I  am  away.  Only,  dorit  be  afraid.  They 
shall  not  harm  you,  and  I  have  my  revolver  in  case 
of  the  worst.  I  am  most  anxious  about  our  lug- 
gage." 

She  lifted  the  heaviest  trunk  as  she  spoke,  and 
placed  it  on  her  shoulder. 

"  I  hope  the  servants  are  out  of  the  way,"  she 
observed ;  "  but  I  must  risk  it." 

In  a  short  time  she  returned,  triumphant.  The 
servants  were  at  tea  in  the  kitchen.  Another  and 
another  of  the  trunks  was  safely  deposited  behind 
some  bushes  in  the  garden,  near  an^buter  door  which 
was  used  only  by  the  gardener,  until  all  were  safe, 
and  Freddie  was  springing  up  the  stairs  with  a 
light  step  and  a  light  heart,  when  on  the  landing 
she  found  herself  face  to  face  with  Ernest  Temple- 
man. 

With  a  haughty  inclination  of  the  head  she  at- 
tempted to  pass  him ;  but  he  rudely  interposed  him- 
self in  her  way. 

"  So,  I've  found  you  at  last,  Miss  Wilson,  have  I  ?  " 
he  began.  "  I've  been  banging  at  your  door  for  half 
an  hour.  Where's  the  other  girl  ?  I  want  to  see  her. 


1 88  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

I've  brought  an  admirer  of  hers  to  visit  her.  He's 
a  gentleman  who  is  ready  to  follow  her  round  the 
world,  for  love  of  les  beaux  yeux  de  la  cassette.  Ha  ! 
ha!" 

He  was  evidently  intoxicated,  and  his  appearance 
and  manner  were  as  offensive  as  his  speech. 

"  Is  your  mother  buried  yet,  Mr.  Templeman  ?  " 
asked  Freddie,  with  severe  dignity,  hoping  to  recall 
him  to  some  sense  of  decency  by  the  mention  of  his 
mother's  name. 

"  I  don't  care  a  curse  whether  she  is  or  not,"  he 
replied  with  brutal  bravado ;  "  I'd  rather  go  to  a 
young  lady's  wedding  than  an  old  woman's  funeral 
any  time,  especially  if  the  wedding  is  my  own,  too. 
My  friend  Grainger  says  that  marriage  is  an  infernal 
bore.  He  tried  it  once,  and  didn't  like  it;  but  I'm 
going  to  do  as  I  like,  and  not  as  he  likes,  so  that's 
settled.  And  I'm  going  to  marry  you  to-morrow, 
my  little  beauty.  And  you  shall  have  this  house  to 
live  in  and  carry  on  the  school,  and  we'll  be  as  jolly 
as  sand-boys ! " 

"  Will  you  cease  this  offensive  language,  sir,  and 
let  me  pass  ?  "  said  Freddie,  in  a  low  measured  tone, 
while  her  eyes  grew  dark  and  flashed  ominously  be- 
neath her  knitted  brows. 

"  My  bride  shall  give  me  a  kiss  before  she  goes, 
and  then  I  don't  think  I  can  part  with  her  at  all  to- 
night— "  said  the  brute,  advancing  with  a  horrible 
leer  on  his  face,  and  his  arms  outstretched  to  em- 
brace her. 

There  was  no  struggle,  no  scuffle ;  but  in  another 


SUDDEN    MOVEMENTS.  189 

instant  Ernest  Templeman  lay  writhing  and  groan- 
ing at  the  bottom  of  the  well  formed  by  the  winding 
stairs.  " 

"  Open  the  door,  Freda!  "  whispered  Freddie.  "  I 
am  here.  It  is  all  right." 

"  O  Freddie,  I  am  so  glad  you  are  come ! "  cried 
Freda,  opening  the  door  with  difficulty,  she  was  in 
such  a  violent  tremble.  "  What  is  amiss  ?  you  are  so 
pale  !  What  has  happened  ?  Where  is  that  dread- 
ful man  who  came  here  and  threatened  to  burst  the 
door  open  ?  Why  don't  you  speak  ?  " 

Freddie  was  indeed  very  pale.  She  felt  sick  at 
heart  at  the  possibility  of  having  taken  a  human  life, 
even  in  self-defence. 

"  It  was  Ernest  Templeman  who  came  to  the 
door,  Freda,"  she  replied.  "I  met  him  on  the  stairs; 
he  insulted  me,  and  I  threw  him  over.  Perhaps  I 
have  killed  him  !  It  is  an  awful  thing  to  think  of. 
Hark,  there's  a  commotion  down  stairs !  They  have 
found  him,  and  are  taking  him  away  somewhere. 
I'll  go  out  and  listen.  God  grant  he  may  not  be 
dead ! " 

"  Don't  open  the  door,  Freddie ;  some  one  will  get 
in  !  "  cried  Freda,  in  the-wildest  terror. 

"  No  one  shall  harm  you,  dear.  No  one  shall 
come  near  you,"  said  Freddie;  "but  I  must  know 
what  harm  is  done." 

As  she  opened  the  door,  the  housemaid  came 
running  up  stairs. 

"  O  Miss  Wilson  !  "  she  began,  "  such  a  dreadful 
thing  has  happened !  Mr.  Ernest  has  come  home, 


J9o  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

and  he  was  quite  drunk,  and  he  tumbled  down 
the  stairs,  and  his  leg  is  broken,  and  his  head 
is  cut  dreadful!  And  Sally  and  another  man  he 
brought  with  him  have  carried  him  into  Missis's 
parlor,  and  there  he  is  laying  on  the  sophy,  groaning 
like  anything." 

"  Who  is  the  man  who  came  with  him  ?  "  inquired 
FreddTe. 

"I  don't  know,  miss;  but  he's  the  most  heejus 
creatur  I  ever  set  eyes  upon." 

"  You  had  better  go  back  and  see  what  you  can 
do  to  help.  And  whatever  happens,  don't  come  to 
us  about  it.  I  shall  lock  our  room  door,  and  will 
not  open  it  again  to-night  for  anything.  I  don't  like 
to  have  strange  men  about  the  house." 

The  girl  heard  the  resolute  click  of  the  lock  as 
she  turned  away. 

"  Now,  take  your  hat  and  cloak,"  said  Freddie, 
"  and  we'll  escape  down  the  back  stairs  while  they 
are  all  busy  in  the  parlor.  I'll  reconnoitre  first,  and 
come  for  you  if  the  way  is  clear." 

As  the  two  fugitives  glided  down  the  back  stairs, 
the .  sound  of  voices  was  audible  from  the  parlor, 
mingled  with  groans  and  execrations  from  Ernest 
Templeman.  All  Freddie's  compunctious  feelings 
vanished  as  she  heard  him.  He  was  not  killed,  and 
a  broken  leg  was  no  more  than  he  richly  merited ; 
so  she  did  not  regret  having  hurled  him  over  the 
banisters. 

They  reached  the  garden  unobserved,  and  locked 
the  door  on  the  inside.  Here  Freddie  also  deposited 


SUDDEN    MOVEMENTS.  191 

the  key  of  their  bedroom,  which  she  had  brought 
with  her.  Crossing  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  large 
garden,  where  a  high  wall  separated  it  from  an  un- 
frequented lane,  they  found  their  luggage  safe  where 
Freddie  had  placed  it. 

A  slight  difficulty  here  arose.  Freda  would  not 
consent  to  be  left  alone  while  Freddie  ran  to  the 
station  for  a  carriage  to  transport  their  trunks,  and 
the  latter  doubted  her  ability  to  keep  up  with  her 
own  rapid  steps. 

"  I'll  run ;  I'll  fly,  rather  than  be  left  alone  for  one 
minute,  Freddie !  That  dreadful  Captain  Grainger 
would  come  out  and  find  me,  while  you  were  gone. 
I'm  sure  he  would.  I  shall  die  of  fright  if  you  leave 
me!" 

Though  Freddie  was  inclined  to  ridicule  such  an 
excess  of  timidity,  which  was  wholly  incomprehen- 
sible to  her  large,  strong  spirit,  she  felt  too  much 
compassion  for  her  weak  friend  to  desert  her  even 
momentarily,  though  the  delay  might  cause  them  to 
miss  the  train.  With  a  brief "  Come  along,  then," 
she  seized  Freda's  hand  and  hurried  her  along  at  a 
rate  which  soon  brought  her,  panting  and  exhausted, 
to  the  station. 

All  was  now  plain  sailing.  By  Freddie's  fore- 
thought and  excellent  arrangement,  in  removing  the 
trunks  betimes  into  the  garden,  they  were  carried 
away  unknown  to  any  one  in  the  house ;  and  while 
the  estimable  Captain  Grainger  was  keeping  a  sharp 
watch  upon  their  empty  room,  lest  they  should 
attempt  to  escape  and  carry  off  Winifred's  Jewels, 


1 92  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

the  two  fugitives  were  comfortably  settled  in  a  quiet 
hotel  in  Liverpool,  discussing  the  events  of  the  day, 
and  shedding  many  sympathetic  tears  over  the  sad 
fate  of  their  kind  preceptress,  which  they  had  hitherto 
had  no  leisure  even  to  think  of. 

They  had  also  their  future  plans  to  arrange.  By 
consulting  the  papers,  they  found  that  a  Cunard 
steamer  would  sail  the  following  day ;  and  on  this 
they  decided  to  depart. 

A  few  hours  of  the  morning  were  occupied  by  a 
visit  to  Chester,  where  Freddie  drew  from  the  bank 
a  sum  sufficient  for  their  voyage,  and  made  arrange- 
ments for  the  transmission  of  the  balance  of  her 
money  to  New  York.  They  had  agreed  that 
Freda  should  repay  her  when  her  jewels  were 
sold ;  for— though  she  knew  not  that  Captain  Grain- 
ger's  rapacity  was  the  cause  of  it — she  had  not 
been  so  liberally  supplied  with  ready  money  as 
her  guardian  desired. 

The  afternoon  saw  them  steaming  down  the  Mer- 
sey. In  the  evening  they  were  out  on  the  Atlantic, 
Freda  looking  rather  pale;  but  the  irrepressible 
Freddie,  ruddy  with  the  invigorating  sea  breeze, 
awfully  hungry,  and  alternately  singing  "  Farewell ! 
Farewell,  my  native  shore!"  and  talking  Tap- 
leyan  philosophy  for  the  encouragement  of  her 
companion,  who,  at  every  bound  which  the  noble 
ship  took  over  the  long  rolling  waves,  felt  less 
and  less  disposed  to  be  "jolly  under  the  circum- 
stances." 

When  within  a  day's  sail  of  New  York,  Freda 


SUDDEN    MOVEMENTS. 


193 


asked  the  name  of  a  large  steamer  which  was  pur- 
suing the  same  course  as  themselves. 

"That's  the  'Aurora/  from  Southampton  to  New 
York,  miss,"  was  the  reply. 

Alas,  that  no  aerial   telegraph  could  communi- 
cate between  two  loving  hearts  that  were  "  so  near, 
and  yet  so  far !  " 
13 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

A   TERRIBLE    DISCOVERY. 

GILBERT  BRACEBRIDGE  went  at  once  to  California, 
without  lingering  in  New  York,  or  any  of  the  cities 
along  his  route.  His  last  dollar  was  gone  by  the 
time  his  journey  was  accomplished ;  but  he  was  too 
much  of  an  American  to  be  long  without  money 
while  he  had  hands  to  work  with. 

"  I  want  a  dinner,"  he  said  to  the  master  of  the 
first  large  hotel  he  came  up  to,  "but  I  have  no 
money  to  pay  for  it.  Can  you  give  me  a  job  of 
work  ?  " 

"  What  can  you  do  ?  " 

."Well — I  can  do  most  anything,"  replied  Gilbert, 
affecting  a  slight  drawl  and  a  Yankee  mode  of  speech, 
Which  he  suspected  would  secure  him  better  treat- 
ment and  greater  freedom  from  imposition  than 
would  be  accorded  to  him  as  an  Englishman — "  car- 
pentering, blacksmithing,  plowing.  What  have  you 
got  to  do  ?  " 

"  Can  you  chop  wood  ?  " 

"  Got  a  sharp  axe  handy  ? "  said  Gilbert ;  and 
without  waiting  for  an  answer  he  walked  off  to 
the  wood-pile,  which  he  saw  at  the  side  of  the 
194 


A     TERRIBLE    DISCOVERY.  195 

house,  and  soon  made  the  walls  ring  to  his  lusty 
strokes.  That  was  how  he  earned  his  first  meal  in 
California. 

Finding  that  labor  was  scarce  and  well  paid  for, 
he  continued  working  at  San  Francisco  for  some 
months,  during  which  time  he  acquired  a  large 
amount  of  information  respecting  the  gold  fields, 
from  the  miners  who  came  back  to  sell  their  gold, 
and  indulge  in  the  brutish  dissipation  of  the  city. 
He  profited  by  the  knowledge  thus  gained,  and 
instead  of  purchasing  a  claim  and  becoming  a  miner, 
he  invested  his  savings  in  a  horse  and  wagon,  which 
he  loaded  with  provisions  and  such  things  as  he 
learned  were  most  needed  in  the  camps,  and  became 
a  trader.  He  found  this  more  profitable  than  digging 
would  have  been,  unless  he  had  proved  to  be  one  of 
the  favored  few  who  find  nuggets  wherever  they  look 
for  them.  But  those  chances  were  as  one  in  a 
thousand ;  whereas  the  trade  he  had  embarked  in 
was  a  certainty,  if  well  conducted.  He  made 
several  trips  with  steadily  increasing  success,  as 
he  comprehended  better  the  wants  of  his  cus- 
tomers, and  enlarged  his  means  of  supplying 
them.  On  his  return  to  "  Frisco  "  he  invariably 
boarded  with  his  first  employer  and  friend,  the 
hotel  keeper. 

The  warm  season  was  far  advanced,  or,  to  speak 
more  correctly,  the  hot  season,  for  it  is  a  trifle  more 
than  warm  when  the  thermometer  stands  at  99°,  and 
Gilbert  meditated  taking  a  journey  to  New  York, 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  ascertaining  whether  an 


196  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

English  lady,  named  Winifred,  had  applied  at  the 
Freedmen's  Bureau,  to  be  sent  as  a  school  teacher  to 
South  Carolina. 

Strenuously  did  he  argue  with  himself  against  the 
folly  of  taking  so  long  a  journey  with  so  vague  an 
object.  The  more  Common  Sense  tried  to  prove  that 
it  was  utterly  absurd  and  Quixotic,  the  more  had  Love 
to  say  in  its  favor. 

Was  it  at  all  likely  that  she  would  come  to 
America  ? 

Nay,  had  she  not  said  she  would  come,  and  did 
she  look  like  a  girl  who  would  change  her  mind  ? 

Supposing  she  came  to  this  country,  it  was  highly 
improbable  that  she  would  waste  her  talents  on  a 
negro  school. 

On  the  contrary,  nothing  was  more  probable.  She 
had  said  she  would  apply  to  the  Bureau  for  a  school, 
and  that  was  equivalent  to  being  appointed  to  one, 
of  course ;  for  would  they  not  be  delighted  to  secure 
such  a  splendid  creature  for  the  work  ? 

Gilbert  Bracebridge,  you  were  never  accused  of 
being  a  consummate  coxcomb ;  but  do  you  not 
prove  yourself  to  be  one,  when  you  suppose  that  a 
few  remarks  made  by  you,  could  have  the  power  to 
induce  a  high-minded  girl  like  Winifred  to  take  so 
important  a  step  ? 

The  answer  came  not  in  words,  but  in  a  thrilling 
recollection  of  the  tearful  eyes  that  met  his  when  he 
bade  her  farewell. 

Tush  !  She  was  crying  over  the  sick  baby.  (Com- 
mon Sense  was  getting  riled^) 


A     TERRIBLE    DISCOVERY.  197 

But  Love  remembers  distinctly  that  her  eyes  were 
quite  dry  when  she  raised  them  to  his ;  so  that  ob- 
jection wont  pass  muster 

The  idea  of  going  to  New  York  on  this  wild-goose 
chase  first  entered  his  mind  while  he  was  at  the 
diggings,  disposing  of  his  last  load  of  goods.  It  had 
been  working  in  his  brain  ever  since ;  and  over  and 
over  again  had  he  discussed  the  question  with  him- 
self, somewhat  in  the  form  given  above;  raising 
objections,  dictated  by  common  sense,  only  to  over- 
throw them  by  refutations  prompted  by  the  uncon- 
trollable passion  with  which  that  short  interview 
with  Freddie  had  inspired  him. 

He  had  never  been  in  love  before — had  not  even 
imagined  himself  in  that  predicament ;  yet  he  could 
not  mistake  the  nature  of  the  emotion  which  over- 
came him  at  the  instant  when  his  eyes  first  rested  on 
her  glowing  face,  as  she  passed  him  on  the  common. 
Had  he  seen  no  more  of  her  than  that,  he  would 
have  felt  that  a  void  was  left  in  his  existence ;  but 
having  conversed  with  her,  witnessed  her  active 
benevolence,  pressed  her  hand,  and  seen  the  tears 
rush  into  her  eyes  under  the  influence  of  his  own  sad 
gaze, — to  see  her  no  more  after  all  this,  was  to  have 
the  best  half  of  his  being  annihilated.  Nothing  that 
earth  could  give  besides,  would  compensate  for  her 
absence. 

Time,  instead  of  weakening  this  feeling,  only  in- 
creased its  intensity.  The  contemplated  journey  in 
search  of  her  occupied  all  his  thoughts  as  he  travelled 
back  to  San  Francisco,  and  the  "  heathen  Chinee " 


198  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

whom  he  employed  to  drive  the  large  wagon  which 
his  extended  business  required,  was  sorely  puzzled  to 
account  for  the  change  in  his  employer's  demeanor. 

Arrived  at  San  Francisco,  he  dismissed  his  hea- 
then, and  actually  talked  trade  with  a  man  who 
wanted  to  buy  his  wagon  and  horses.  It  was  only 
talk,  of  course ;  but  when  he  went  to  bed  he  knew 
very  well  that  he  could  get  a  good  price  for  them 
in  the  morning,  before  the  train  started  for  the  East. 

And  still  the  pros  and  cons  played  leap-frog  in  his 
brain,  and  kept  him  awake  half  the  night. 

His  sleeplessness  was  farther  increased  by  an  occa- 
sional groan  proceeding  from  an  adjoining  room, 
which  was  separated  from  his,  only  by  a  thin  wooden 
partition.  He  had  heard,  casually,  that  there  was 
a  sick  man  in  the  house,  a  miner  who  had  recently 
returned  from  the  diggings ;  but  as  he  had  probably, 
like  the  generality  of  his  fraternity,  incurred  his 
sufferings  by  his  own  misconduct,  Gilbert  had  felt 
no  particular  interest  in  him.  But  Gilbert's  heart 
was  too  gentle  to  allow  him  to  listen  unmoved  to 

O 

the  moans  of  a  fellow  creature  in  evident  pain  ;  and 
with  a  resolve  to  "  look  after  the  poor  devil  "  in  the 
morning,  he  at  length  fell  asleep. 

As  will  naturally  be  supposed,  his  dreams  were 
all  about  Freddie.  Once  more  he  was  carrying  poor 
Kitty  through  the  storm ;  but  instead  of  lying  silent 
and  insensible,  she  uttered  repeated  groans,  and  at 
last,  in  a  tone  of  agony,  she  cried  out,  "  Winifred ! 
Winifred !  "  so  loud,  that  he  suddenly  awoke. 

He  started  up  and  listened.     He  was  quite  posi- 


A     TERRIBLE    DISCOVERY.  199 

tive  that  he  had  heard  the  name  spoken,  and  in  the 
voice  of  a  man.  That  there  could  be  more  than  one 
Winifred  in  the  world  was'out  of  the  question;  there- 
fore, whoever  the  man  might  be  whose  cry  had  aroused 
him  from  his  sleep,  he  must  be  acquainted,  and  pro- 
bably in  love  with  his  Winifred. 

As  he  sat  listening  for  a  repetition  of  the  sounds, 
with  his  eyes  glaring  round  upon  the  darkness,  he 
was  very  much  alive  to  the  fact  that  he  had  a  bowie 
knife  and  a  revolver  within  reach. 

The  sick  man  moaned  and  tossed  in  his  bed. 
Then  a  faint,  weary  voice  fell  upon  the  listener's 
ear: 

"  O  Winifred,"  it  said,  "  I  am  dying ;  dying  of 
thirst  in  this  pitiless  desert !  Must  I  never  see  you 
again  ?  Will  you  not  come  to  me  when  I  am 
dying  ?  " 

There  was  something  familiar  in  the  tone  of  the 
voice.  The  sweat  stood  thick  on  Gilbert's  brow  as 
he  sprang  out  of  bed  and  hurried  on  his  clothes. 

He  knew  the  house  well  enough  to  get  what  he 
wanted  without  disturbing  any  one ;  and  having  ob- 
tained a  light,  he  went  to  the  room  where  the  sick 
man  lay. 

Several  other  men  occupied  the  apartment,  but 
they  were  all  buried  in  heavy  slumber,  as  their  deep 
breathing  testified.  The  sick  man  was  easily  dis- 
tinguished from  these  by  his  restless  movements 
and  the  low  moans  which  he  uttered  from  time  to 
time. 

Gilbert  held  the  light  so  that  it  fell  upon  his  face. 


200  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  Tis  he,"  he  muttered;  "  I  cannot  be  mistaken  in. 
that  face  which  I  know  so  well !  But,  what  mystery 
can  there  be  behind  all  this  ?  Or,  did  I  dream 
that  I  read  an  account  of  his  death  ?  Yet,  even 
if  so,  why  is  he  here,  in  this  forlorn  condition? 
Be  that  as  it  may,  I  will  take  care  of  him.  And, 
first  of  all,  I  must  get  him  out  of  this  stye.  Faugh ! 
The  smell  of  rum  and  tobacco  is  enough  to  poison 
him." 

He  raised  the  invalid  in  his  strong  arms  and  bore 
him  to  his  own  bed.  The  room  was  small,  but  it 
was  clean  and  well  ventilated,  and  Rupert  Forester 
(for  he  it  was)  would  have  a  better  chance  of  recovery 
there  than  in  the  larger  room  from  which  he  had 
been  removed,  where  the  atmosphere  was  tainted  by 
the  foul  breaths  and  unwholesome  exhalations  from 
the  spirit-clogged  lungs  and  unwashed  bodies  of  the 
drunken  diggers. 

All  the  rest  of.  the  night  Gilbert  sat  by  the  bed, 
now  bathing  the  feverish  hands  and  face  with  fresh 
water,  now  pouring  a  teaspoonful  into  the  parched 
mouth,  and  always  revolving  the  same  questions  in 
his  mind :  "  What  can  have  brought  him  to  this 
plight?  and,  what  can  he  know  about  Winifred?" 

With  the  first  blush  of  morning  he  sought  the 
landlord,  told  him  he  had  discovered  a  friend  in  the 
poor  sick  miner,  and  consulted  what  was  best  to  be 
done. 

The  result  was,  that  they  sent  for  a  doctor,  who 
pronounced  the  case  to  be  typhus  fever,  and  pre- 
scribed pills  and  potions,  which  were  duly  adminis- 


A     TERRIBLE    DISCOVERY,  201 

tered,  with  the  usual  effect  of  still  further  weakening 
the  already  enfeebled  frame. 

A  week,  two  weeks,  three  weeks  passed  away,  and 
brought  no  improvement.  The  strong  man  tended 
his  friend  with  the  thoughtful  care  of  a  woman,  and 
scarcely  ever  left  him.  On  one  of  these  rare  occa- 
sions, while  Rupert  slept,  watched  by  the  landlord's 
daughter,  Gilbert  visited  a  place  where  the  English 
Times  was  filed,  and  eagerly  consulted  the  numbers 
issued  two  or  three  months  previously.  There  it  was. 
"  Fearful  catastrophe  at  Brighton.  A  Nobleman 
drowned  while  bathing."  Then  followed  all  the 
particulars ;  so  he  was  satisfied  that  he  had  not  been 
dreaming.  The  solution  of  the  mystery  was  as  far 
off  as  ever. 

A  few  nights  later,  as  he  lay  on  the  floor  sleeping 
"  with  one  eye  open,"  he  was  aroused  by  hearing  his 
patient  trying  to  get  out  of  bed,  and  talking  hur- 
riedly. 

"  Mother,  mother!"  he  cried,  "why  have  you  suf- 
fered me  to  grow  up  a  living  lie  upon  the  face  of 
God's  earth  ?  You  had  better  have  strangled  me  in 
infancy.  I  will  not,  I  cannot  hold  a  title  and  estates 
to  which  I  have  no  right.  I  care  not  though  your 
reputation  may  suffer.  You  should  have  thought 
of  that  before.  I  will  do  justice  to  the  rightful  heir, 
and  the  world  must  find  what  excuse  it  can  for  you, 
in  the  wretched  marriage  into  which  you  were  forced. 
Ah,  yes — you  say  truly — my  sisters  are  innocent. 
They  would  be  ruined.  Their  husbands  married 
them  as  Earl's  daughters,  and  such  an  Earl !  For 


202  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

their  sakes  I  will  be  silent  I  will  be  a  faithful  stew- 
ard of  the  estates  till  young  Clarence  comes  of  age ; 
and  then, — I  hardly  know  what  then,  but  he  shall 
have  his  own,  even  at  the  cost  of  my  life.  Thank 
God,  I  was  never  married!  " 

Rupert  was  so  restless  all  this  time,  and  made  so 
many  attempts  to  get  out  of  bed,  that  Gilbert  was 
compelled  to  hold  him,  and  consequently  to  hear  all 
that  he  said. 

This,  then,  was  the  secret  which  the  Countess 
confided  to  her  son  upon  her  death-bed. 

"  She  had  better  have  held  her  tongue  about  it," 
thought  Gilbert. 

Another  train  of  ideas  soon  possessed  the  sick 
man's  brain. 

"  Poor  Ellen  !  To  die  such  a  death !  Struck  down 
by  her  own  husband!  God  of  heaven,  can  a  man 
be  such  a  brute  as  to  burn  his  own  child !  The 
key — he  has  it  with  him.  I  must  have  the  key  to 
let  her  out !  Ah,  I  did  not  mean  to  kill  him  when  I 
fired!  He  threatened  me;  I  fired  in  self-defence. 
Ellen !  I  have  rescued  your  child,  and  here  are 
your  jewels.  Kind  Mother  Superior,  is  she  dying? 
No;  I'll  not  see  her  till  the  last  moment.  Yes, 
Ellen,  I  promise  it ;  I  will  protect  your  child !  " 

There  was  another  pause,  and  the  patient  seemed 
to  have  fallen  into  an  uneasy  sleep. 

Unconscious  that  he  was  thinking  aloud,  though, 
in  fact,  the  words  were  not  more  than  breathed, 
Gilbert  whispered:  "But  where  did  he  see  Wini- 
fred?" 


A     TERRIBLE    DISCOVERY,  203 

The  name,  faintly  uttered  as  it  was,  acted  like 
magic  on  Rupert's  excited  imagination. 

"  Winifred !  My  Freda !  My  only  love ! "  he  cried, 
"  shall  I  never  more  look  upon  thy  sweet  face  ?  Oh, 
it  is  so  cruel,  when  I  know,  too,  that  she  loves  me ! 
But  I'll  place  her  in  safety.  That  school  near  Chester 
is  the  very  thing.  He  will  not  think  of  looking  for 
her  there.  She  will  be  safe  when  I  am  no  longer 
able  to  protect  her.  I  will  not  bid  her  farewell — I 
cannot — my  strength  would  fail  me !  " 

Winifred  in  a  school  near  Chester !  Was  any 
further  proof  needed?  It  was  for  this  that  she  wished 
to  come  to  America.  To  follow  and  reclaim  her 
wandering  lover ! 

And  Gilbert,  as  he  sat  like  a  statue  by  the  bed, 
glaring  with  hot  fierce  eyes  upon  its  helpless  occu- 
pant, felt,  rather  than  thought,  that  he  had  but  to 
leave  his  rival  to  his  fate,  and  he  would  die. 

He  was  roused  by  the  touch  of  Rupert's  feverish 
hand,  so  thin  and  wasted.  He  rushed  out  of  the 
house. 

Was  he,  then,  determined  to  leave  the  wretched 
man  to  die  ?  No ;  he  went  no  farther  than  to  the 
fresh  cold  spring,  from  which  he  brought  a  pail  of 
pure  water.  The  patient  drank  eagerly.  Then  the 
nurse  bathed  his  face  and  hands,  and  stood  watch- 
ing him. 

"  God  forgive  me  for  my  evil  thoughts  !  "  he  said, 
in  a  deep  whisper ;  "  I  will  save  him,  if  I  can,  for 
the  love  I  bear  him, — the  love  of  old  times,  when 
he  was  as  a  brother  to  me, — and  I  will  save  him 


204  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

for  Winifred's  sake.  He  may  return  even  yet,  and 
make  her  a  Countess.  For  Winifred's  sake,  my 
brother ! " 

He  pressed  his  lips  to  Rupert's  brow  as  a  pledge 
of  faith. 

"  Something  more  must  be  done  for  him,"  he  con- 
tinued ;  "  these  drugs  do  him  no  good.  He  is  more 
soothed  by  a  little  cold  water  than  by  all  the  doctor's 
physic.  I'll  pack  him  in  a  wet  sheet,  and  throw  the 
medicine  out  of  window." 

With  Gilbert,  to  resolve  was  to  act.  I  need  not 
describe  the  process  by  which  he  treated  his  friend, 
but  it  is  necessary  to  mention  that,  just  before  the 
patient  fell  into  the  delightful  sleep  which  usually 
accompanies  the  treatment,  he  spoke  again. 

"  Gilbert ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  I  thought  Gilbert  was 
here.  If  I  could  find  Gilbert,  all  would  be  well.  He 
would  take  care  of  my  Winifred — his  sister's  child." 

For  a  moment  Gilbert  stood  moveless  as  a  statue. 
Then  he  dropped  on  his  knees  beside  the  bed,  and 
bowed  his  face  upon  his  hands. 

The  terrible  convulsion  that  shook  his  soul  while 
he  remained  thus  was  hidden  from  sight,  but  its  ef- 
fect was  visible  on  his  countenance  when  he  arose. 

He  seemed  like  one  who  had  stood  face  to  face 
with  something  more  terrible  than  death,  and  who 
must  carry  the  ever-present  recollection  of  the  horror 
with  him  to  his  grave. 

His  face  was  deadly  pale  beneath  its  bronze,  and 
the  bright  cheery  glance  had  passed  from  his  eyes, 
never,  perhaps,  to  return. 


A     TERRIBLE    DISCOVERY. 


205 


Winifred  was  his  niece  ! 

He  would  go  to  New  York ;  he  would  track  her 
wherever  she  was  gone;  with  his  own  eyes,  he  would 
see  that  she  was  really  the  same  Winifred  he  had 
once  seen  near  Chester;  he  would  re-unite  these 
severed  lovers,  and  then  go  to  the  other  end  of  the 
earth,  he  cared  not  whither. 

Rupert  already  slept  the  calm,  untroubled  sleep 
that  promised  speedy  recovery. 

As  soon  as  he  could  be  safely  left,  Gilbert  would 
depart. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

LIFE   IN    THE  SOUTH. 

"  DRIVE  ! "  exclaimed  Freddie,  "  I  should  think-  I 
could,  indeed.  -I'll  drive  eight  in  hand  if  you'll 
give  me  a  good  team.  But,  seriously,  Freda,  we 
must  have  some  means  of  getting  across  that 
creek  before  a  heavy  rain  falls.  Even  as  it  is, 
you  see,  it  wont  do  for  me  to  carry  you  across 
that  old  log  every  day.  We  should  certainly 
be  seen  sooner  or  later,  and  a  pretty  thing  that 
would  be ! " 

"  Why  are  you  so  ashamed  of  this  glorious  gift 
of  strength,  Freddie  ?  I  should  be  so  proud  of  it, 
if  it  were  mine,  and  you  hide  it  as  though  it  were  a 
crime  to  possess  it." 

"  It  is  worse  than  a  crime,"  replied  Freddie ;  "  it's 
a  blunder.  But  that  wont  help  us  across  a  swollen 
creek.  Will  you  walk  with  me  to  that  Mr.  Roy's, 
and  see  if  he  will  hire  his  horse  and  buggy  to  us  till 
we  can  buy  a  couple  of  horses?  " 

"Why,  Freddie,  is  not  that    the  man  who  has 
treated  the  poor  black  people  so  cruelly? — who  is 
even  suspected  of  having  killed  some  of  them  ? " 
asked  Freda. 
206 


LIFE     IN     THE    SOUTH.  207 

"  Yes,  dear ;  but  I  never  heard  that  his  horse  has 
done  them  any  harm ;  and,  as  the  man  himself  is 
sick  and  confined  to  his  bed,  he  is  the  more  likely 
to  lend  it." 

"  I'll  go  with  you,  if  you  think  we  can  do  so 
safely.  But,  suppose  we  should  meet  some  of  those 
men  who  have  been  threatening  to  shoot  us,  and  to 
burn  the  school  house,  and  so  many  dreadful  things 
besides?  Had  we  not  better  send  a  note,  or  a 
message  ?  " 

"There  is  a  path  through  the  woods,  which  has 
been  pointed  out  to  me,"  answered  Freddie,  "  where 
we  are  very  unlikely  to  encounter  any  unpleasant 
characters.  And,  besides,  I  always  carry  this  little 
friend,"  producing  her  revolver  from  a  carefully  con- 
cealed pocket.  "  There  are  six  men's  lives  here, 
Freda ;  for  I  never  miss  my  aim,  and  it  is  not  pro- 
bable that  we  should  meet  with  more  than  two  or 
three  at  once.  And  perhaps  they  might  be  satisfied 
with  being  knocked  down.  O  Freda,  would  it  not 
be  jolly  if  a  couple  of  bush-whackers  were  to  come 
swaggering  up  to  us  poor  unprotected  females, 
threatening  to  cow-hide  us  if  we  did  not  get  back  to 
the  North,  and  then  to  find  to  their  cost  that  one 
of  the  gentle  creatures  could  hit  out  straight  from 
the  shoulder,  and  knock  them  into  the  middle  of 
next  week !" 

"  O  Freddie,  dear ! "  cried  Freda  in  dismay, 
"what  makes  you  use  such  dreadful  slang  expres- 
sions ?" 

"  It's  just  the  force  of  old  associations,"  replied 


208  WINIFREDS    JEWELS. 

Freddie,  laughing.  "  The  celebrated  pugilist  who 
had  the  honor  of  instructing  me  in  his  noble  art, 
was  also  a  proficient  in  the  elegant  accomplishment 
of  talking  slang,  and  I  learned  the  two  with  equal 
facility.  Thus  it  happens  that  one  always  suggests 
the  other.  Now,  if  you  feel  that  you  will  be  safe 
with  me,  put  on  your  hat  and  let  us  be  gone.  We 
shall  probably  return  in  old  Roy's  buggy." 

Their  walk  was  a  pleasant  one,  along  a  well-de- 
fined path  through  a  tract  of  woodland  that  was 
probably  a  portion  of  the  original  forest.  The  trees 
were  beautiful,  though  not  remarkable  for  size,  and 
the  wood  was  quite  destitute  of  the  luxuriant 
shrubby  undergrowth,  which  is  so  marked  a  feature 
in  most  English  woods. 

The  air  was  delightful,  for  though  excessively 
warm,  it  was  so  dry  that  the  effect  was  quite  ex- 
hilarating. 

The  house  to  which  they  were  going  was  one  of 
a  class  that  is  often  met  with  in  South  Carolina.  It 
was  a  frame  building,  containing  four  rooms,  all  on 
the  same  floor,  and  raised  upon  brick  piers  about 
three  or  four  feet  from  the  ground.  A  wide  entry 
clear  through  from  front  to  back,  formed  almost 
another  room,  being  by  far  the  coolest  and  pleasant- 
est  part  of  the  house  during  the  heat  of  summer. 
The  two  front  rooms  were  provided  with  fire-places, 
but  there  were  none  in  the  back  rooms,  which  were 
also  of  a  lower  pitch,  owing  to  the  slope  of  the  roof. 

Mr.  Roy  was  a  widower,  without  children,  so  the 
young  ladies  saw  only  colored  people  when  they 


LIFE  IN  THE  SOUTH.  209 

arrived.  A  great  number  of  these  were  standing 
about  in  the  yard  behind  the  house,  and  hanging 
round  the  doors  of  the  wretched  log  cabins  where 
the  servants  lived.  They  made  very  little  noise, 
yet  it  was  evident  from  their  excited  looks  and  eager 
whisperings  that  something  was  taking  place  which 
possessed  an  unusual  amount  of  interest  for  them. 

An  elderly  woman  came  out  to  receive  them  with 
the  form  of  salutation  most  usual  among  the  black 
women,  shaking  hands,  and  performing  a  sort  of 
courtesy  by  bending  both  knees,  and,  as  it  were, 
presenting  her  stomach  to  the  visitors. 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  ladies,"  she  said ;  "  how  is  bofe 
your  helfs  ?  " 

"  We  are  quite  well,  thank  you,"  replied  Freddie. 
"  How  is  Mr.  Roy  ?  " 

"  He's  mighty  bad,  Miss  Winifred,  mighty  bad. 
I  thought  for  sure  de  Lord  had  done  took  him  last 
night." 

"  How  is  your  helf,  Miss  Winifred  ?  "  inquired  an 
old  man,  joining  in  the  conversation.  "  How  is 
your  helf,  Miss  Fredy  ?  Thank  you,  miss,  quite 
well,  bress  de  Lord ! — Mas'r  Dick  has  been  very 
bad,  ladies,  but  I  don't  tink  he'll  die  dis  time.  De 
Lord  is  doing  a  great  work  upon  him." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  uncle  Benjamin  ?  "  inquired 
Freda. 

"  He's   been  mighty  hard    upon  us   poor  black 

folks,  specially  since  freedom,  and  now  de  merciful 

Lord  have  sent  all  dose  poor  cullud  men  what  he's 

done  killed,  and  dey  are  round  his  bed,  ebery  one 

14 


210  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

of  'em,  and  Mas'r  Dick  is  talking  to  'em  quite  sen- 
sible, and  telling  'em  he  couldn't  help  killing  dem, 
cos  he  was  made  to  do  it,  and  he  asks  deir  pardons 
and  calls  upon  de  name  ob  de  Lord." 

"  He  is  delirious, — out  of  his  head,  you  know," 
said  Freddie,  "  and  thinks  he  sees  them,  that's  all. 
His  conscience  wont  let  him  rest." 

"  No,  honey,  no  !  "  insisted  the  woman,  "  he's  as 
sensible  as  I  am.  Just  listen  to  him." 

In  fact  they  heard,  in  the  silence  that  ensued,  the 
voice  of  a  man  speaking  on  the  other  side  of  the 
wooden  partition,  in  a  tone  of  earnest'  entreaty,  but 
with  no  sound  of  raving  or  delirium. 

"  I  was  not  my  own  master,"  he  said,  "  and  I 
could  not  help  doing  what  I  did.  I  was  compelled 
to  it  by  those  who  were  more  powerful  than  I  was. 
Don't  come  and  reproach  me  while  I  am  lying  here 
helpless.  I  will  never  harm  nor  wrong  any  of  your 
people  again  if  you  will  only  go  away  and  leave  me 
in  peace." 

"  Bress  de  Lord  !  "  murmured  uncle  Benjamin. 

"  His  voice  sounds  as  if  he  were  in  his  senses," 
observed  Freddie.  "  We  came  to  see  if  he  would  hire 
out  his  buggy  to  us  for  a  few  weeks.  Do  you  think 
you  could  ask  him  ?  " 

"  Lord  knows  !  "  replied  the  woman.  "  Look'ee 
here,  honey,  he's  been  mightily  set  against  you  two 
ladies  for  coming  here  to  teach  us  poor  folks, — I 
don't  know  what  he'll  say." 

"  Give  him  our  message,  any  way,"  said  Freddie, 
"  that  can't  kill  him,  and  he  can't  kill  us." 


LIFE  IN  THE   SOUTH.  211 

The  woman  still  hesitated,  when  Mr.  Roy  called 
to  her,  to  know  what  strangers  were  there. 

"  It's  the  two  school  teachers,  Mas'r  Dick,"  she 
answered,  "  wanting  to  know  if  you'll  hire  out  your 
buggy  and  horse  for  a  week  or  two,  for  them  to 
drive  to  school  in." 

"  Yes,  yes — let  them  have  it, — let  them  have  it." 

"  What  is  the  hire  ?  I  will  pay  it  now,  if  agree- 
able," said  Freddie,  who  had  heard  what  he  said. 

"  Nothing — nothing — they're  welcome  to  it.  And 
now  will  you  leave  me  in  peace  ?  "  The  last  ques- 
tion was  addressed  to  the  spirits  of  his  victims  whom 
he  believed  to  be  standing  around  him.  "  Tell  Dave 
to  clean  the  buggy,  and  hitch  up  Brown  Bob  for 
those  ladies.  Tell  them  they  are  welcome  to  it. 
Give  me  a  drink,  aunt  Becky.  Oh,  thank  God ! 
Some  of  them  are  going  ! " 

"Ah  !  now  don't  you  see  how  wonnerful  de  Lord 
is  working  on  his  sinful  heart  ?  "  said  uncle  Benja- 
min, "  bress  de  name  ob  de  Lord  ! "  . 

"  It  is  a  fortunate  delusion  for  us,"  said  Freddie, 
"  and  I  hope,  for  the  sake  of  your  people,  that  it 
will  last  after  he  gets  well." 

The  buggy  was  soon  ready,  and  Brown  Bob, — the 
best  horse  in  the  penitent  sinner's  stable, — took 
them  in  fine  style  to  their  temporary  home. 

It  would  have  been  impossible  for  them  to  attend 
the  school  on  several  occasions  after  the  heavy 
thunder  storms  that  visited  the  neighborhood  about 
once  a  week,  if  they  had  not  had  the  means  of 
crossing  the  swollen  creek. 


212  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

One  afternoon  a  storm  of  unusual  severity  burst 
over  the  school-house,  and  detained  them  more  than 
an  hour  after  the  usual  time  of  closing.  Several  of 
the  children  lived,  like  themselves,  on  the  further 
side  of  the  creek,  and  these  the  teachers  promised 
to  take  across  in  the  buggy. 

Freddie  drove  slowly  down  to  the  creek,  followed 
by  the  merry  little  troop,  laughing,  shouting,  sing- 
ing, and  performing  all  sorts  of  antics.  The  water 
was  higher  than  they  had  ever  seen  it  before,  and 
even  Freddie  was  doubtful  whether  it  would  be  safe 
to  attempt  to  cross  over  till  it  had  subsided  to  a  safe 
level.  Had  she  been  alone  she  would  probably 
have  dashed  through  and  risked  it;  but  Freda's 
timidity,  as  well  as  her  safety  had  to  be  consulted, 
and  she  agreed  to  wait,  unless  Brown  Bob,  when 
driven  gently  to  the  edge,  should  take  the  ford  of 
his  own  free  will. 

But  Bob  put  his  head  down  to  the  water,  and 
suddenly  backed,  snorting  and  showing  the  strong- 
est signs  of  terror  and  repugnance. 

"  What's  that  in  the  water  ?  "  exclaimed  Freda. 
"  Surely  it's  a  man !  I  see  his  arm !  Charley ! 
Harry ! "  she  called,  to  two  of  the  biggest  boys, 
who  were  in  fact  almost  young  men.  "  There's  a 
man  in  the  water  !  Make  haste  and  get  him  out !  " 

The  lads  sprang  forward,  caught  the  arm  which 
she  had  seen,  and  drew  to  the  bank  a  loathsome 
and  ghastly  object.  It  was  the  body  of  a  negro, 
which  had  evidently  been  a  long  time  in  the  water. 
The  hands  and  feet  were  bound  with  ropes,  and 


LIFE   IN  THE   SOUTH.  213 

round  the  neck  was  fastened  a  heavy  stone,  tied  up 
in  the  end  of  a  sack. 

The  girls  screamed  and  huddled  together,  shrink- 
ing with  horror  from  the  dreadful  thing,  yet  im- 
pelled by  curiosity  to  approach  and  examine  it. 
The  boys  looked  on  in  wonder  and  dread,  and  the 
word  "  bush-whacker  "  was  whispered  among  them, 
as  they  tried  to  guess  at  the  identity  of  the  unfor- 
tunate person,  and  the  cause  of  his  death.  Freda 
was  silent,  and  Freddie's  attention  was  taken  up  for 
the  moment  in  pacifying  Bob,  who  tried  hard  to 
break  away. 

"  Don't  go  near  it,  children,"  she  said,  in  a  steady 
voice,  calculated  to  reassure  them ;  "  the  poor  man 
has  been  dead  a  long  time,  and  you  can  do  him  no 
good,  and  you  may  take  some  harm  yourselves.  I 
am  going  to  fetch  some  men  to  take  charge  of  the 
body,  and  when  I  return  I  will  take  you  over  the 
creek,  as  I  promised.  We  shall  not  be  gone  long." 

"  Stay,  Freddie,"  whispered  Freda,  "  let  me  get 
out.  It  would  not  be  right  to  leave  these  poor 
children  with  no  one  to  sustain  their  courage  and 
control  their  fears.  I  will  remain  with  them." 
Then  glancing  round  to  see  that  none  of  the  chil- 
dren were  within  hearing,  she  added,  "  I  saw  two 
more  corpses  in  the  water  !  Bring  the  men  quickly. 
I  will  show  them  where  they  are,  but  it  is  better  to 
conceal  this  fresh  horror  from  the  children." 

"I  knew  there  was  true  metal  in  you,  Freda, 
should  the  occasion  arise  to  try  it,  and  I  see  I  was 
right.  Blood  tells,  they  say." 


214  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

Nevertheless  Freddie  did  not  like  to  leave  her 
friend  unprotected  in  that  desolate  spot,  and  Brown 
Bob  had  to  put  forth  his  best  paces  to  keep  up  with 
her  demands. 

The  place  to  which  she  was  driving  was  a  small 
collection  of  huts,  where  she  would  probably  find 
several  men  driven  home  by  the  storm.  As  she 
approached  she  saW"  six  or  seven  horsemen  riding 
quickly  #way  in  the  opposite  direction.  From  their 
general  appearance  she  judged  that  they  were  white 
men,  and  felt  glad  that  she  was  spared  the  annoy- 
ance of  meeting  them. 

When  she  drove  up  she  found  the  black  popula- 
tion in  a  great  commotion.  Many  of  the  women 
were  weeping  bitterly.  One  was  addressing  a  small 
knot  of  listeners  with  the  most  violent  tones  and 
gesticulations;  the  old  men  seemed  bowed  down 
by  despondency,  and  the  younger  were  all  more  or 
less  exasperated.  All  were,  of  course,  talking  at 
the  same  time,  or  they  would  not  have  been  genuine 
Africans. 

"  If  I'd  been  here  I'd  have  had  a  shot  at  them  ! " 
exclaimed  one  young  fellow. 

"  You  are  too  venturesome,  Tom  Racket,"  re- 
sponded an  old  man,  "'you'd  only  get  served  worse 
yourself  if  you  tried  to  stop  them  in  their  deviltries. 
The  Lord  help  us  poor  black  people !  We  shall  all 
go  back  to  slavery  again  !  " 

"  Here  comes  Miss  Winifred !  Let's  hear  what 
she  says  about  it !  "  said  another. 

"  What  is  amiss,  my  friends  ?  "  asked  Freddie,  as 


LIFE    IN    THE    SOUTH.  21$ 

she  stopped  in  the  midst  of  them.  "  What  has  hap- 
pened to  make  all  this  disturbance  ?  No  fighting, 
I  hope  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  Miss  Winifred,"  replied  the  young  man 
on  whom  her  eye  fell  as  she  spoke,  "  I'se  done  quit 
fightin'.  But  I'd  ha'  fit  if  I'd  ha'  bin  here  dis  even- 
in',  though,  fore  I'd  ha"  let  my  poor  ole  mother  be 
whipped ! " 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  ?  "  asked  Fred- 
die, with  growing  impatience,  "  I  beg  of  you  to  tell 
me." 

A  dozen  voices  answered,  and  from  the  con- 
sequent confusion  she  at  last  gathered  that  the  men 
she  had  seen  riding  away,  had  come  to  the  cabins, 
pulled  out  the  women,  who  tried  to  hide  themselves, 
and  flogged  them  severely. 

She  learned,  furthermore,  that  this  was  not  by  any 
means  the  first  time  that  these  gentlemen,  the  much 
boasted  Southern  chivalry  (!!),  had  performed  the 
same  dastardly  outrage,  and  that  for  no  fault  the 
poor  creatures  had  committed,  but,  as  they  expressed 
it,  for  mere  devilment. 

"  And  do  you  call  yourselves  men,"  exclaimed 
Freddie,  indignantly,  "  and  would  stand  by  and  see 
your  women  treated  so  shamefully?  Go  back  to 
slavery,  do  you  say?  You  deserve  it,  for  your 
cowardice ! " 

"  Why,  Miss  Winifred,  what  could  we  poor  cree- 
turs  do  ?  "  said  the  old  man  who  had  spoken  first. 

"  Show  them  that  you  are  no  longer  slaves,  but 
free  men,  with  the  same  rights  as  themselves,"  she 


216  WINIFREDS    JEWELS. 

replied.  "  Some  of  you  have  guns ;  could  you  not 
shoot  the  ruffians  ?  What !  Had  you  no  cudgels — 
no  knives — no  fists,  even,  to  knock  them  down  ?  " 

"They  didn't  whip  me!"  cried  the  woman  who 
had  been  talking  when  Freddie  arrived. 

"No,"  echoed  the  old  man,  "they  didn't  whip 
aunt  Caroline;  she  fit  them  manfully." 

"  Did  they  give  you  that  bad  cut  on  your  face, 
aunt  Caroline  ?  "  asked  Freddie,  observing  that  blood 
was  flowing  from  a  wound  on  her  cheek. 

"  Yes,  Miss  Winifred ;  it  was  little  Joe  Atkins 
threw  a  rock  at  me.  But  I  don't  mind ;  I  gave  them 
as  good  as  they  gave  me." 

"  If  you  will  all  follow  aunt  Caroline's  example, 
these  white  rascals  will  soon  learn  to  respect  you. 
But  now,  I  want  some  of  you  men  to  come  down  to 
the  creek.  There's  a  dead  man  that  our  boys  have 
pulled  out  of  the  water,  and  from  the  appearance  I 
am  convinced  he  must  have  been  murdered." 

A  loud  wail  arose  from  the  women  as  they  heard 
this.  But  one  of  them  demanded,  "Is  it  a  black 
man,  Miss  Winifred  ?  " 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say  it  is.  Come  quickly,  for  Miss 
Trevanian  is  there  with  the  school  children,  and  if 
any  of  these  white  gentlemen  should  go  by,  they 
would  probably  annoy  and  insult  her." 

The  whole  colony  started  off  in  a  moment.  The 
men  forgot  the  shame  which  had  overpowered  them 
under  Freddie's  reproaches ;  the  women  forgot  their 
wrongs  and  their  bruises,  and  all  hurried  away  at  a 
pace  which  kept  Bob  at  a  gentle  trot. 


LIFE     IN    THE    SOUTH.  217 

When  they  arrived  within  a  few  hundred  yards 
of  the  creek,  they  all  stopped  with  one  accord,  with 
raised  hands  and  open  eyes  and  mouths,  listening  to 
such  music  as  they  had  never  before  heard.  Sweet, 
rich  and  powerful  rose  Freda's  lovely  voice,  blended 
with  the  fine,  though  uncultivated  tones  of  the  negro 
children.  She  had  assembled  them  on  the  driest 
spot  she  could  find,  and,  to  withdraw  their  young 
minds  as  much  as  possible  from  the  horrible  sight 
they  had  been  looking  at,  she  had  engaged  them  in 
singing  a  beautiful  and  solemn  hymn  which  she  had 
taught  them. 

"  Sure  nuff  de  angels  can't  sing  no  better'n  dat!  " 
cried  one  old  woman,  while  tears  of  delight  dropped 
from  her  raised  eyes,  and  her  withered  countenance 
assumed  an  expression  of  perfect  beatitude. 

But  Freda  saw  them ;  the  hymn  ceased,  and  these 
impressionable  children  of  the  sun  returned  to  the 
terrible  reality  of  life. 

Loud  cries  and  wailings-  arose  when  they  recog- 
nized the  corpse  as  that  of  a  man  who  had  disap- 
peared a  few  weeks  previously.  Freda  pointed  out 
the  places  where  she  believed  she  had  seen  two  other 
corpses.  Some  of  the  men  waded  into  the  water 
and  brought  them  out.  They  were  a  man  and  a 
woman,  unknown,  but  as  evidently  murdered,  for 
heavy  weights  were  tied  to  their  necks. 

While  they  stood  in  consultation  about  the  means 
of  moving  the  remains  to  the  burial  ground,  they 
were  joined  by  another  man  in  a  state  of  the  wildest 
excitement,  who  told  them  that  the  dam  of  a  mill, 


2f8  WINIFREDS    JEWELS. 

situated  about  half  a  mile  higher  up  the  creek,  had 
given  way  before  the  accumulation  of  water,  and 
upwards  of  twenty  bodies,  all  bound  and  weighted 
like  these  three,  had  been  washed  out  into  the 
stream. 

The  dreaded  name  of  Ku-Klux  had  not  then  at- 
tained the  notoriety  which  distinguished  it  a  few 
years  later,  but  the  outrages  on  defenceless  women, 
and  the  wholesale  murders  described  above,  were 
some  of  the  earlier  works  of  that  band  of  miscreants. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

HORSE    DEALING^ 

FOR  several  days  the  fearful  sight  of  those  poor 
murdered  people  seemed  to  be  ever-present  to  the 
young  school  teachers,  and  oppressed  their  spirits 
like  a  night-mare.  Even  Freddie  was  sobered  down, 
and  could  no  longer  extract  amusement  from  the 
eccentricities  of  their  landlady,  which  had  been  an 
unfailing  source  of  delight  to  her  ever  since  they 
had  taken  up  their  abode  in  her  house.  Miss  Fanny 
Kitely  was  indeed  a  most  remarkable  female,  both 
in  appearance  and  character.  She  was  an  elderly 
spinster;  excessively  tall,  and  with  about  as  much 
variety  of  contour  in  her  ungainly  figure  as  is  ob- 
servable in  a  pair  of  tongs.  Her  features  were  sharp 
and  pinched,  and  her  disposition  was  to  the  full  as 
angular  as  her  body.  At  times  she  professed  to  be 
extremely  religious,  but  her  boarders  soon  discovered 
that  her  piety  was  of  the  intermittent  type,  and  only 
came  on  violently  on  the  occurrence  of  a  camp- 
meeting  or  other  sectarian  jollification,  when  an 
abundance  of  the  good  things  of  this  world  would 
be  obtainable,  in  addition  to  the  means  of  grace.  On 
ordinary  occasions,  the  chief  points  of  her  theology 

219 


220  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

were  a  firm  belief  that  at  the  day  of  judgment  she 
would  take  a  flight  up  into  the  air,  and  a  positive 
c.onviction  that  God  made  "them  niggers"  to  be  the 
slaves  of  the  white  race.  When  questioned  regard- 
ing the  grounds  on  which  she  based  the  latter  asser- 
tion, her  reply  was,  "  Why,  of  course,  it  stands  to 
reason.  What  did  God  make  them  black  for,  if  he 
didn't  mean  them  to  be  slaves?" 

Her  'education  was  on  a  par  with  that  usually  to 
be  found  among  the  "poor  whites,"  as  they  are 
sometimes  called  (otherwise  white  Irasli) ;  that  is  to 
say,  she  was  very  little  in  advance  of  the  generality 
of  the  freedmen,  and  more  ignorant  than  some  of  the 
school  children. 

She  had  been  much  out  of  humor  since  the  dis- 
closure of  systematic  murder  made  by  the  breaking 
down  of  the  mill-dam,  for  that  was  a  stubborn  fact 
which  could  neither  be  denied  nor  palliated.  She 
had'  at  first  attempted  to  treat  it  lightly,  saying, 
"  I  reckon  they'd  done  something  to  deserve  it," 
but  was  silenced  by  such  an  eloquent  burst  of  in- 
dignation from  Freda,  that  Freddie  listened  in  silent 
astonishment. 

Miss  Fanny  liked  the  money  that  the  young 
ladies  p^fc.  her,  though  she  hated,  like  poison,  the 
work  on  which  they  were  engaged.  "  What's  the 
good  of  teaching  them  niggers,"  she  would  say, 
"  you  can't  never  learn  them  nothing  !  "  And  when 
assured  that  they  were  as  apt  and  intelligent 
scholars  as  any  white  children,  she  retreated  within 
an  inner  fortification,  which  time  alone  could  de- 


HORSE    DEALING.  221 

stroy,  and  comforted  herself  by  saying  that  they 
would  never  remember  anything  they  had  learned, 
nor  have  sense.to  do  any  good  with  it. 

As  she  hated  their  work  and  scorned  the  negroes, 
she  was  excessively  riled  when  Mr.  Roy  lent  them 
his  buggy.  Gall  and  wormwood  were  as  milk  and 
honey  compared  with  her  feelings  when  she  con- 
templated "  them  nigger  teachers  driving  to  school, 
while  she  had  to  go  on  foot." 

It  was,  therefore,  with  great  satisfaction  that  she 
informed  them  about  a  week  afterwards  that  Dick 
Roy  had  sent  to  say  he  wanted  his  buggy. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  said  Freda,  "  from  the  wording 
of  that  message,  that  Mr.  Roy  is  returning  to  his 
old  sentiments  of  animosity  towards  niggers  and 
nigger  teachers." 

"  Ay,"  replied  Freddie, 

'  When  the  Devil  was  sick,  the  Devil  a  monk  would  be  ;' 
When,  the  Devil  was  well,  the'  Devil  a  monk  was  he.' 

That  may  be  the  case  with  our  friend ;  but  I  sus- 
pect the  fair  Kitely  curtailed  the  message  somewhat 
of  its  fair  proportions.  Miss  Kitely,"  she  added, 
going  to  the  door,  "  who  brought  the  message  from 
Mr.  Roy  ?  "  P 

11  It  was  Joe  Racket." 

"  Is  he  waiting  for  an  answer  ?  " 

"  I  reckon,"  was  the  concise  reply. 

"  Will  you  tell  him  to  come  in,  if  you  please  ?  " 
said  Freddie. 

"  Ho !  Joe  !  "   shouted   Miss   Fanny.      But   how 


222  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

can  I  give  in  writing  any  idea  of  the  way  in  which 
they  call  any  one  in  South  Carolina  ?  At  first  the 
two  syllables  were  pretty  equally  emphasized ;  but 
as  the  summons  was  repeated  the  Ho  became 
lengthened  out,  and  the  Joe  diminished,  the  vowel 
sound  being  also  altered  from  o  to  a,  until  the  result 
was  "  Ha w  Jaw  ! " 

Miss  Fanny's  voice  was  more  remarkable  for 
power  and  shrillness  than  for  sweetness,  but  the 
young  ladies  were  pretty  well  used  to  its  strident 
tones  by  this  time,  and  the  Haw  Jaw  passed  with- 
out comment. 

The  summons  was  answered  by  a  good-natured 
looking  black  lad,  who  showed  all  his  white  teeth 
in  a  friendly  grin  as  he  entered  the  presence  of  the 
teachers, 

"  So  you've  come  for  Mr.  Roy's  buggy,  have  you, 
Joe  ?  "  said  Freddie. 

"  Yes,  Miss  Winifred,"  replied- Joe;  "  Mas'r  Dick 
wants  it  to  ride  in  it  next  week." 

"What  message  did  he  send,  Joe?  Tell  us 
exactly  what  he  told  you  to  say,"  said  Freda. 

"  He  say  to  give  his  expects  to  bofe  you  ladies, 
and  say  he  be  glad  if  you  be  convenient  to  let  him 
have  de^Duggy  de  fust  of  de  week,  cos  he  better 
now,  and  want  to  go  to  Gusty."  (Augusta.) 

"  Well !  Isn't  that  what  I  said  ?  "  bawled  Miss 
Fanny,  from  the  entry  where  she  had  been  listening. 
"  Did  you  think  I'd  told  you  a  lie,  Miss  Winifred  ?  " 

"Oh,  no!"  replied  Freddie,  with  perfect  good 
temper;  "you  did  not  tell  an  untruth,  Miss  Fanny; 


HORSE    DEALING.  223 

but  by  leaving  out  a  part  of  it,  you  turned  a  polite 
message  into  a  rude  one." 

"  I  told  you  the  man  wanted  his  buggy,  and  that's 
about  the  long  and  short  of  it,  I  reckon." 

Joe  was  dismissed  with  his  message,  and  presently 
Miss  Fanny  poked  her  white  face  and  sharp  nose  in 
at  the  window,  saying,  with  a  malicious  chuckle, 
"  If  you  want  horses,  you'd  better  look  out.  There's 
a  string  of  'em  gwine  down  the  road." 

Freddie  was  out  in  a  moment,  closely  followed 
by  Miss  Fanny,  and  at  a  greater  distance  by  Freda. 
She  stopped  the  man  who  was  driving  the  horses, 
saying  she  wanted  to  purchase  one,  and  would  like 
to  see  if  he  had  anything  that  would  suit  her. 

"  Certainly,  madam,"  he  replied.  "  Now  here  is 
an  animal  I  can  recommend  for  a  lady's  use." 

"  You'll  guarantee  that  horse  not  to  run  away, 
will  you  ?  "  asked  Freddie,  very  innocently. 

"  That  I  will,  madam,  upon  my  honor.  I'll  give 
you  a  written  guaranty  if  you  prefer  it." 

"  The  poor  creature  is  a  sufficient  guarantee  in 
himself,"  she  said,  in  a  tone  of  quiet  sarcasm ;  "  a 
blind  horse  is  seldom  known  to  run  away,  I  believe." 

The  man  looked  sheepish,  but  quickly  led  out 
another  horse. 

"  Here  then,  madam,  is  one  that  I  am  pretty  cer- 
tain will  suit  you." 

"My  friend,"  said  Freddie,  laughing,  "don't 
trouble  yourself  to  recommend  any.  Though  I  am 
a  lady,  I  know  something  about  horses,  and  can 
quickly  see  whether  you  have  one  to  suit  us." 


224  WINIFREDS    JEWELS. 

"  Law !  Don't  you  go  buying  a  horse  without 
asking  somebody's  advice,"  interposed  Miss  Fanny; 
"  what  can  a  woman  know  about  horses  ?  " 

"  And  why  should  a  woman  not  know  about  any- 
thing that  is  useful  ?  "  asked  Freddie. 

"  Well,  you'll  get  cheated,  just  see  if  you  don't. 
Why  can't  you  wait  and  let  my  brother  buy  you  a 
horse,  if  you  must  have  one  ?  " 

"  Simply  because  I  prefer  trusting  to  my  own 
judgment,"  Freddie  answered,  with  a  quiet  tone  of 
superiority,  that  was  always  highly  exasperating  to 
the  fair  Kitely,  while  it  never  failed  to  subdue  her. 

"Umph!  You'll  take  your  own  way,  I  suppose, 
in  spite  of  salvation  !  "  she  exclaimed,  prefacing  her 
remark  with  a  kind  of  snort. 

"  Trot  put  that  little  grey  mare,"  said  Freddie  to 
the  horse  dealer.  He  obeyed,  and  the  animal 
underwent  such  a  critical  examination  as  convinced 
him  that  she  at  least  knew  how  to  appear  to  be  a 
judge  of  horseflesh. 

"  What  do  you  want  for  her  ? "  asked  Freddie, 
carelessly. 

"  Well,  madam,"  he  replied,  with  the  air  of  one 
who  makes  a  great  concession  to  the  person  ad- 
dressed, "  I  will  let  you  have  her  for  two  hundred 
dollars." 

"  Two  hundred  fiddlesticks  !  "  exclaimed  Freddie, 
quite  thrown  off  her  guard,  and  using  a  favorite 
expression  of  her  old  friend  the  circus  manager, 

Freda  uttered  a  warning  cough,  and  was  fain  to 
cover  her  laughing  mouth  with  her  handkerchief. 


HORSE    DEALING.  225 

Freddie  bit  her  lips,  and  to  hide  her  momentary 
confusion,  took  the  halter  from  the  dealer's  hand,  and 
sprang  lightly  on  the  bare  back  of  the  little  grey. 

"  You'll  tumble  awf,"  screamed  Miss  Fanny. 

But,  without  paying  any  regard  to  her,  Freddie 
cantered  up  and  down,  changing  the  mare's  pace  to 
trot  or  gallop,  and  back  to  a  canter,  as  if  merely  by 
an  effort  of  her  will. 

Freda  was  charmed  by  the  perfect  ease  and  grace 
of  her  friend's  movements ;  she  had  never  seen  her 
fine  figure  to  such  advantage. 

Miss  Fanny  stared  after  her  in  wide-mouthed 
wonder. 

"  If  that  aint  the  beat'emest  thing  ever  /  saw !  " 
exclaimed  the  horse  dealer. 

"  Oh,  don't  she  ride  bootiful  ?  "  "Ah,  Miss  Wini- 
fred can  ride  jest  as  well  as  de  ladies  in  de  show." 
"  See  how  easy  she  make  de  mar  lope." 

These  and  similar  ejaculations  were  uttered  by  the 
crowd  of  black  folks  who  had  assembled  according 
to  their  wont  when  anything  is  going  on,  just  as  if 
they  had  risen  out  of  the  earth. 

Freddie  stopped,  and  sprang  to  the  ground.  Giv- 
ing the  halter  to  the  horse  dealer,  she  said,  "  I  will 
give  you  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  for  her. 
If  you  will  take  that,  you  can  bring  her  up  to  the 
house  yonder.  But  if  you  try  to  raise  my  bid  by  so 
much  as  one  cent,  I  will  go  down  to  a  hundred." 

"Jim,"  said  the  man  to  his  assistant,  "hitch  this 
here  mar  whar'  she  was,  and  git.  I  reckon  that's 
less'n  I  giv  for  her." 


226  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

He  watched  for  the  effect  this  order  would  pro- 
duce upon  Freddie ;  but  that  astute  young  lady  was 
not  so  unwise  as  to  suffer  any  chagrin  to  be  visible ; 
and  Miss  Fanny  had,  besides,  just  diverted  her  at- 
tention into  another  channel. 

"  Them  niggers  is  saying  you  ride  like  a  circus 
woman,"  she  said,  spitefully. 

Freda's  eyes  flashed  indignantly;  but  Freddie  was 
equal  to  the  occasion.  Fixing  her  eyes  on  a  far 
distant  point,  and  waving  her  outstretched  hand 
horizontally,  so  as  to  give  the  idea  of  vast  space,  she 
said,  in  a  sepulchral  tone,  "  In  the  wild  expanse  of 
the  Pampas  of  South  America,  in  the  boundless 
Steppes  of  Russian  Tartary,  in  the  trackless  soli- 
tudes of  the  Great  Sahara,  the  women  are  trained  to 
ride  the  untamed  steeds  of  the  desert  without  saddle 
or  bridle.  Perhaps  it  was  there  that  I,  too,  learned 
to  ride." 

Having  delivered  this  extraordinary  speech,  she 
drooped  her  head  upon  her  breast,  and,  with  folded 
arms,  stalked  solemnly  back  to  the  house  with  long, 
slow,  and  majestic  steps. 

Freda  involuntarily  added  to  the  effect  by  her 
genuine  look  of  consternation,  for  she  really  sup- 
posed at  first  that  her  dear  Freddie  had  suddenly 
become  insane. 

The  negroes  buzzed  their  delight,  for  nothing  ex- 
cites their  admiration  more  than  a  string  of  high- 
sounding  words.  As  for  Miss  Fanny,  she  for  once 
found  herself  completely  silenced. 

"  She  must  have  seen  a  deal  in  her  life-time,"  ob- 


HORSE    DEALING.  227 

served  the  horse  dealer,  deferentially,  as  he  prepared 
to  lead  the  mare  up  to  the  house. 

"  You  aint  a-gwine  to  take  her  at  her  word,  are 
you  ?  "  exclaimed  Miss  Fanny,  roused  by  this  spec- 
tacle ;  "  you'll  be  a  fool  for  your  pains,  if  you  do. 
You  keep  up  to  the  two  hundred  dollars,  and  you'll 
git  it.  She  wants  that  horse  mighty  bad,  and  she's 
got  the  money  to  pay  for  it.  And  what's  she,  I'd 
like  to  know  ?  She's  nothing  but  a  Yankee  school 
marm,  come  down  here  to  teach  them  black  nigger 
children." 

"  No,  thank  you,  old  lady,"  replied  the  man;  "  I'd 
only  lose  twenty-five  dollars  by  following  your  ad- 
vice. I  kin  judge  a  woman  pretty  nigh  as  well  as 
that  lady  kin  judge  a  horse,  an'd  that's  saying  some- 
thin',  I  kin  tell  you.  She's  put  her  foot  down. right 
thar,  and  all  I've  got  to  do  is  to  give  in,  or  lose  the 
sale." 

"  Umph  !  "  snorted  Miss  Fanny  ;  "  it's  madam, 
madam,  for  her,  every  word,  and  nothing  better'n 
old  lady  for  me.  It's  all  along  of  setting  them  nig- 
gers free — just  flying  in  the  face  of  Providence,  who 
gave  them  to  us  for  slaves." 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

A   TRAP    IS    LAID    FOR    FREDDIE. 

THE  grey  mare  was  for  Freda,  but  Freddie  had 
much  greater  trouble  to  find  a  horse  to  suit  herself. 
Several  times  she  heard  that  one  of  the  neighboring 
"  gentlemen  "  (!)  desired  to  sell  one ;  but  when  she 
sent  to  inquire  about  it,  some  insulting  message  was 
invariably  returned  to  the  effect  that  the  owner 
would  shoot  the  horse,  or  use  it  for  plowing,  before 
any  d — d  Yankee  should  have  it. 

One  day,  however,  when  they  had  just  returned 
from  the  school,  Freda  riding  her  docile  mare,  and 
Freddie  walking,  running  and  leaping  to  her  heart's 
content,  they  saw  an  elderly  negro  leading  into  the 
yard  a  remarkably  handsome,  but  very  wild-looking 
horse.  He  would  not  hitch  him  up,  but  sent  to  ask 
Miss  Winifred  to  come  out  and  speak  to  him. 

Freddie  went  out,  followed  closely  by  Miss  Fanny, 
as  a  matter  of  course.  The  man  informed  her  that 
his  master  had  sent  him  to  offer  her  the  horse,  as  he 
heard  she  wanted  one.  Freddie  knew  the  name  of 
this  man,  as  that  of  a  most  determined  rebel  and 
Democrat,  as  well  as  a  suspected  member  of  the 
Ku-Klux  Klan.  Why  he  should  design  to  render 
228 


A     TRAP    IS    LAID    FOR    FREDDIE.          229 

her  a  service  she  could  not  comprehend ;  but  a  very 
slight  survey  of  the  horse  showed  her  that  the  kind- 
ness was  but  in  outward  show,  and  that  the  real 
intention,  in  making  her  the  apparently  handsome 
offer,  was  that  she  should  have  some  broken  limbs, 
if  not  a  broken  neck.  The  animal  had  been  rendered 
wild  and  vicious  by  ill-treatment,  but  that  that  was 
not  his  natural  disposition  she  saw  by  the  shape  of 
his  head.  In  all  other  respects  he  was  a  splendid 
creature,  and  the  price  demanded  for  him  was  not 
exorbitant. 

"That  is  just  the  horse  to  suit  me,"  said  Freddie, 
"and  I  will  buy  him." 

"  Law !  What  do  you  want  with  such  a  great 
spirity-looking  horse  as  that?"  cried  Miss  Fanny, 
offering  her  advice  as  usual,  without  waiting  to  be 
asked  for  it.  "  That  horse  aint  fit  for  a  lady  to  ride. 
You'll  get  thrown  off,  as  sure  as  fate.  Why,  I've 
seen  Mr.  Harding  riding  him,  and  it  was  as  much 
as  he  could  do  to  keep  on.  You'll  just  go  and  make  a 
fool  of  yourself,  if  you  buy  him,  that's  what  you'll  do." 

All  this  time  the  man  who  held  the  horse  had 
been  looking  eagerly  towards  Freddie,  and  making 
signs  that  he  desired  to  say  something  to  her,  un- 
heard by  Miss  Fanny.  Freddie  took  the  bridle  and 
turned  the  horse  round,  saying,  coolly,  "  You  had 
better  keep  clear  of  his  heels,  Miss  Fanny.  He'll 
kick." 

"And  you've  done  pushed  his  heels  right  against 
me ! "  cried  that  lady,  springing  up  the  steps  into 
the  house. 


230  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

11  What  do  you  want  to  say  to  me?"  said  Freddie, 
in  a  low  tone,  to  the  negro. 

"  O  Miss  Winifred,  for  Gor  a-mighty's  sake,  don't 
you  buy  dis  horse !  I  darn't  let  Miss  Fanny  hear 
me  say  so,  cos  she'd  tell,  and  I'd  lose  my  house  and 
my  crap  and  all ;  but  Mas'r  Harding  have  ony  sent 
him  to  you  out  of  nothing  but  cussedness  !  Dis  here 
horse  has  done  killed  one  man — done  broke  his 
neck — and  he's  pretty  near  killed  Mas'r  Harding, 
too ;  he's  done  throwed  him  six  or  seven  times,  and 
Mas'r  Harding  said  he'd  have  him  shot ;  and  then 
his  brother  says,  No,  don't  do  that ;  but  sell  him  to 
those  damned  Yankee  school  marms,  and  when  they 
hitch  him  in  a  buggy,  he'll  smash  them  both  up. 
That's  just  what  he  said,  for  my  girl  Sophrony  heard 
'em.  So  just  let  Miss  Fanny  hear  you  say  you've 
altered  your  mind,  and  I'll  take  him  back  again." 

"  But  I  have  not  altered  my  mind,  my  good  friend. 
I  knew,  before  you  told  me,  that  the  creature's  tem- 
per has  been  spoiled  by  ill  treatment ;  but  he  is  not 
naturally  vicious,  and  in  a  few  weeks,  under  proper 
training,  he  will  be  as  gentle  as  a  kitten.  Don't  tell 
Mr.  Harding  what  I  have  said.  I'll  have  the  pleas- 
ure of  riding  by  his  house  one  of  these  days,  and 
showing  off  a  little." 

The  horse  was  taken  into  the  tumble-down  barn, 
which  served  for  a  stable,  and  fed  by  Freddie  herself. 
The  money  was  paid  to  the  last  cent,  though  old 
Jacob  gave  her  a  hint  that  Mas'r  Harding  had  told 
him  he  might  take  fifty  dollars  less  if  she  demurred 
about  the  price. 


A     TRAP    IS    LAID    FOR    FREDDIE.  z~i 

"No,  Jacob,"  she  replied,  "that  man  has  attempted 
my  life  just  as  much  as  though  he  had  fired  a  gun 
at  me,  and  I'll  accept  no  concession  from  him.  It 
is  not  fifty  dollars'  worth  of  revenge  that  would  sat- 
isfy me,  if  I  were  going  to  take  any  revenge  at  all." 

However,  to  preserve  old  Jacob  from  the  tempta- 
tion of  telling  a  different  tale,  and  putting  the  fifty 
dollars  into  his  own  pocket,  Freddie  drew  up  a  re- 
ceipt for  the  amount,  to  which  Jacob  made  his  mark, 
which  was  duly  attested  by  Miss  Fanny.  She  also 
wrote  the  amount  outside  the  envelope  in  which  she 
folded  the  bills,  and  counted  them  in  Miss  Fanny's 
presence.  Having  thus  secured  poor  Jacob  from 
temptation,  she  made  him  a  present,  and  sent  him 
on  his  way  rejoicing. 

Freda  had  been  in  the  garden  gathering  flowers, 
and  knew  nothing  of  Freddie's  purchase  till  Miss 
Fanny  sought  her  out,  and  gave  her  an  exaggerated 
account  of  it. 

When  they  came  into  the  house,  Freddie  was  sit- 
ting in  the  wide  entry,  rocking  slowly,  and  looking 
very  thoughtful. 

"  Ah,  you're  beginning  to  repent  already,  I  see 
that !  "  exclaimed  Miss  Fanny,  triumphantly. 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  am  very  well  satisfied  with 
my  bargain.  And  I  was  just  thinking  how  fortunate 
it  is  that  my  brother  is  coming  here  in  a  day  or  two. 
He  understands  Rarey's  method,  and  will  tame  that 
horse  for  me." 

"  Your  brother !  Why,  you  never  told  me  you 
had  a  brother !  "  screamed  Miss  Fanny. 


232  WINIFRED' S    JEWELS. 

"  And  I  never  told  you  I  had  six  sisters,  did  I  ?  " 
said  Freddie,  coolly. 

"  No ;  but  have  you  really  got  six  sisters  ?  " 

"You'll  see,  if  they  ever  pay  me  a  visit,"  said 
Freddie,  laughing;  "but  my  brother  —  my  twin 
brother — will  come  probably  to-morrow." 

"  Law !  I  didn't  know  you'd  had  a  letter  since 
you  came  here.  When  did  you  hear  from  him?  " 

"  Miss  Kitely,"  replied  Freddie,  gravely,  "  I  be- 
lieve you  have  not  devoted  yourself  to  the  study  of 
the  occult  sciences  ?  " 

"  No ;  what  has  that  to  do  with  it  ?  "  said  poor 
Kitely,  looking  considerably  puzzled. 

"  Ah,  then  you  can  form  no  idea  of  that  recipro- 
city of  a  sympathetic  sensibility  which  enables  twin- 
born  children,  of  peculiar  idiosyncrasies,  to  commu- 
nicate through  the  psychologic  and  magnetic  power 
of  the  od  force." 

"  I  don't  know  what  you're  talking  about.  Can't 
you  speak  plain  English  ?  Do  you  understand  what 
she  says  ?  "  turning  abruptly  to  Freda. 

"  Oh,  yes,  perfectly,"  replied  that  young  lady,  who 
had  been  very  much  amazed  at  hearing  of  Freddie's 
brother,  but  would  not  thwart  her  friend's  plans  by 
appearing  to  doubt  her  assertions. 

"  Did  you  know  she'd  got  a  brother?"  asked  Miss 
Kitely. 

"  I  have  not  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  yet," 
replied  diplomatic  Freda. 

"  Umph !  "  grunted  Miss  Fanny,  "  there's  no  get- 
ting a  word  of  sense  out  of  either  of  you." 


A     TRAP    IS    LAID    FOR    FREDDIE.          233 

And  she  took  herself  off  in  high  dudgeon,  greatly 
exercised  about  Freddie's  family  relations. 

"  You  wicked  girl !  "  exclaimed  Freda,  when  they 
were  alone,  "  how  could  you  talk  such  nonsense  to 
that  poor  woman,  and  mystify  her  so  ?  " 

"  What  business  had  she  to  ask  me  so  many  im- 
pertinent questions?"  said  Freddie;  "she  got  no 
more  than  she  deserved." 

"  But,  poor  soul,  she  knows  no  better,"  said  gentle 
Freda;  "so  you  should  make  some  allowance  for 
her.  She  becomes  really  unhappy  when  you  over- 
whelm her  with  words  that  she  cannot  understand. 
And  now,  do  tell  me  what  you  mean  about  your 
brother  ?  You  told  me  you  had  no  relations  at  all. 
What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I'll  not  gratify  your  curiosity.  You  are  becom- 
ing as  inquisitive  as  the  Kitely  herself.  Wait  till 
to-morrow,  and  you'll  see." 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 
FREDDIE'S  TWIN  BROTHER. 

THE  morrow  came ;  and  when  it  wanted  about  two 
hours  of  sunset,  Freddie,  who  had  artfully  decoyed 
Freda  and  Miss  Fanny  to  a  distant  part  of  the  gar- 
den, suddenly  uttered  a  little  cry  of  delight,  and  ran 
into  the  house. 

"  Law !  What's  amiss  with  her  now? "  asked  Miss 
Fanny. 

"  I  should  not  wonder  if  her  brother  is  come,"  re- 
marked Freda. 

"  Let's  go  and  see,"  cried  the  Kitely,  starting  off. 

"  Don't  intrude  upon  them  yet,"  said  Freda,  "  the 
brother  and  sister  will  like  to  be  alone  for  a  little 
while,  after  being  so  long  separated." 

"  I  don't  bother  myself  with  no  such  fantastical  no- 
tions," rejoined  Miss  Fanny,  striding  away  to  the 
house ;  "/  want  to  see  if  he's  there,  and  what  he's 
like ;  and  I'll  say  and  do  what  I've  got  to  say  and 
do,  in  spite  of  salvation  !  " 

With  this  favorite  mode  of  asseveration,  she  gained 
the  house,  but  stared  blankly  around.     No  one  was 
visible ;  but  the  sound  of  voices  was  audible  through 
the  closed  door  of  Freddie's  room. 
234 


FREDDIE'S    TWIN    BROTHER.  235 

When  Freda  came  up  the  steps  she  found  Miss 
Fanny  with  her  eye  at  the  key-hole  and  her  ears  on 
the  alert. 

"  There's  somebody  there,  sure  enough,"  she  said, 
no  way  abashed  at  being  discovered  eaves-dropping, 
"  and  I  suppose  it's  him.  But  there's  something  before 
the  key-hole,  so  I  can't  see  good.  And  they're  talking 
some  foreign  lingo,  too.  Why  can't  they  talk  Eng- 
lish, I  wonder,  so  one  could  understand  what 
they're  saying  ?  "  Then  applying  her  hard  knuckles 
sharply  to  the  panels,  she  shouted,  "  Miss  Winifred, 
have  you  got  your  brother  in  there  ?  We  want  to 
see  him ! " 

"  I'll  come  out  presently,"  answered  Freddie,  and 
the  conversation  was  renewed. 

Very  much  edified  would  Miss  Fanny  have  been 
could  she  have  understood  what  was  said ;  for  it  was 
a  scene  from  one  of  Moli5re's  comedies,  read  with 
dramatic  effect. 

Miss  Fanny  returned  to  where  Freda  was  placidly 
reading,  and  sat  down  in  no  very  amiable  mood. 

Presently  Freddie  came  out  of  her  room. 

"  Is  it  not  vexatious  ?  "  she  said.  "  Poor  Tom  can 
only  stop  a  few  hours,  and  all  that  time  I  must  do 
nothing  but  write,  write,  write,  to  get  ready  some 
important  documents  which  he  wants  to  take  away 
with  him.  I  shall  not  even  be  able  to  look  on  while 
he  is  taming  Sultan.  I  must  have  a  few  minutes 
more  with  him,  and  then  he  will  come  out  and  in- 
troduce himself;  but  no  one  must  disturb  me  for 
anything." 


236  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

Freda  could  not  understand  it,  but  she  said 
nothing.  As  for  Miss  Fanny,  she  looked  savage. 

Presently  a  young  man  in  a  sailor's  dress  came 
forth,  but  stood  for  a  few  moments,  holding  the  door 
ajar,  and  carrying  on  a  lively  conversation  with 
Freddie,  whose  voice  was  distinctly  heard,  answer- 
ing him  from  the  interior  of  her  room.  Her  last 
words  were,  "You  tiresome  fellow;  I'll  lock  you 
out."  Then  the  key  was  turned  in  the  lock,  and 
the  young  sailor  approached  with  his  cap  in  his 
hand.  He  was  a  well-made  young  fellow,  of  middle 
height,  and  bore  a  strong  resemblance  to  Freddie, 
except  that  his  hair  was  black.  His  eyebrows,  too, 
were  black  and  bushy,  and  a  small  black  moustache 
clothed  his  upper  lip. 

This  was  how  he  appeared  to  Freda  and  Miss 
Fanny,  for  my  readers  have  of  course  discovered 
that  it  was  Freddie  herself  in  her  sailor's  costume. 

"  Good  evening,  ladies,"  he  said,  taking  off  his 
cap,  and  making  a  bow  that  was  rather  more  suited 
to  the  stage  than  to  the  quarter-deck  of  a  ship, — 
(I  must  speak  of  Freddie  in  the  masculine  gender 
while  she  is  thus  travestied).  "  I  want  to  see  my 
sister's  horse.  I  am  going  to  tame  him  for  her,  by 
Rarey's  method." 

Miss  Fanny,  who  had  never  been  more  than  thirty 
miles  from  the  place  of  her  birth,  perceived  nothing 
incongruous  in  a  sailor  undertaking  to  tame  a  horse  ; 
but  Freda,  as  she  volunteered  to  show  him  the 
stable,  could  not  help  quoting  from  the  celebrated 
Sairey  Gainp,  and  whispered  '"The  bragian  bold- 


FREDDIES    TWIN  BROTHER,  237 

ness  of  that  boy!'  But  I'll  plague  her  a  bit,"  she 
said  to  herself,  and  tapped  at  Freddie's  door  as  she 
passed  it,  saying,  in  a  loud  tone,  "  Freddie,  dear ! 
I  am  going  to  take  your  brother  to  the  stable  !  " 

She  was  quite  taken  aback  for  a  moment  at  hear- 
ing Freddie's  voice  answer  from  the  inside,  "  Thank 
you,  Freda  dear!  Don't  let  me  be  disturbed  for 
anything, — I  am  so  awfully  busy." 

Glancing  round  she  caught  the  sailor's  laughing 
grey  eye,  but  did  not  dare  to  speak,  for  the  Kitely 
was  at  her  heels,  with  her  mouth  agape  like  a 
gudgeon,  bent  on  catching  every  word. 

Only  at  the  stable  door  she  whispered,  "  Be  care- 
ful ! "  before  •  she  ran  across  the  yard  to  take  her 
place  in  the  back  entry,  whence,  from  the  vantage 
ground  of  the  six  or  seven  steps  (the  house  being 
built  as  usual  upon  pillars),  she  could  witness  the 
operation  in  safety. 

I  need  not  describe  Rarey's  admirable  mode  of 
taming  horses.  Those  who  have  witnessed  it,  know 
what  it  is ;  and  those  who  have  not,  would  only  find 
a  description  wearisome.  Suffice  it,  therefore,  to 
say  that  Tom  Wilson  manipulated  Sultan  with  very 
great  success,  to  the  amazement  of  Miss  Fanny  and 
the  large  assemblage  of  negroes,  who  are  always  on 
hand  when  anything  unusual  is  going  on.  As  for 
Freda,  her  feelings  went  far  beyond  wonder;  she 
was  utterly  mystified.  Could  that  be  Freddie  who 
leaped  so  lightly  into  the  saddle,  and  rode  so  grace- 
fully round  the  yard,  then  made  Sultan  jump  the 
fence,  and  take  a  wider  circuit,  managing  him  with 


238  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

all  the  grace  of  a  practised  horseman  ?  No — cer- 
tainly, she  thought,  she  must  be  mistaken.  This 
must  be  Tom,  and  not  Freddie ;  for  the  sun  had  set 
before  Sultan  was  finally  consigned  to  his  stable; 
the  short  twilight  was  darkening  into  night,  and 
there  was  a  light  in  Freddie's  room !  Who  but  she 
could  have  lighted  it  ?  And  how  could  she  light  it, 
if  she  were  not  in  the  room  ? 

Tom  went  to  his  sister's  door,  and  turned  the 
handle. 

"  Come,  Freddie,"  he  said,  "  why  don't  you  let 
me  in  ?  I  want  to  wash  my  hands." 

"  You  know,  Tom,  I  have  not  a  moment  to  spare," 
answered  Freddie's  voice  from  the  interior  of  the 
room ;  "  if  I  let  you  come  in,  you  must  be  very  quiet." 

"  All  right,"  said  Tom,  rattling  at  the  lock,  which 
was  immediately  opened,  and  in  he  went. 

A  brisk  conversation  was  carried  on  between  the 
two,  while  Tom  was  washing  his  hands.  The  door 
was  then  opened  again,  and  Freddie  called  to  Freda. 

"  Oh,  Freda !  "  she  exclaimed,  "  I  cannot  write  a 
word  while  this  boy  is  here !  If  you  will  play  a 
hornpipe  on  your  guitar  he  will  dance  for  your 
amusement,  and  perhaps  he  will  play  on  his  violin 
too.  Now  go  along,  Tom,  there's  a  good  boy  !  " 

A  lively  altercation,  followed  by  a  playful  scuffle, 
took  place,  which  ended  by  Tom's  being  forcibly 
ejected,  and  the  door  banged  behind  him.  He  turned 
and  tried  to  get  in  again,  making  a  considerable  noise 
with  the  handle ;  but  the  door  appeared  to  be  locked 
on  the  inside,  and  he  walked  away  with  his  hands  in 


I 

FREDDIE'S    TWIN  BROTHER.  239 

his  pockets.  This  scene  was  performed  so  cleverly 
that  Freda  could  hardly  believe  that  there  was  only 
one  actor  in  it.  And  then  the  lamp !  Who  could 
have  lighted  that  ? 

"  Stupid  that  I  am  !  "  was  her  next  thought,  "  she 
left  it  burning  when  she  came  out  to  tame  Sultan, 
and  it  was  not  seen  while  the  sun  was  shining  ! " 

The  guitar  was  tuned,  and  Freda  played  the  horn- 
pipe in  spirited  style.  Then  the  young  sailor, 
having  hitched  up  his  waist-band  in  true  nautical 
fashion,  performed  that  delightful  dance  with  a  grace 
and  finish  that  T.  P.  Cooke,  or  Davenport,  could 
not  have  excelled. 

The  windows  and  door  were  crowded  with  black 
faces,  beaming  with  delight,  and  uttering  yells  of 
applause, — and  yet  all  could  not  see,  especially  the 
children.  So  the  performance  was  repeated  in  the 
yard,  by  the  light  of  blazing  pine  knots ;  the  firm 
hard  sand  affording  excellent  footing. 

The  young  sailor  next  played  several  airs  on  the 
violin,  making  his  susceptible  audience  (all  except 
Miss  Fanny)  laugh  or  cry  at  pleasure.  After  that, 
the  torches  were  lighted  up  again,  and  the  hornpipe 
was  repeated,  just  because  some  more  black  folks 
had  arrived,  and  were  bemoaning  their  ill  luck  in 
having  missed  the  spectacle. 

The  moment  it  was  over,  Tom  rushed  to  Freddie's 
room,  and  was  instantly  admitted.  When  he  came 
out  the  entry  was  in  partial  darkness,  for  Freda  still 
sat  on  the  top  step,  playing  the  tune  of  the  horn- 
pipe, while  several  of  the  darkies  were  attempting 


240  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

to  imitate  the  steps  of  the  dance.  Miss  Fanny  was 
at  full  grin,  enjoying  the  fun  as  much  as  any,  and 
scarcely  heard  the  sailor's  words  as,  in  a  voice 
broken  by  sobs,  he  bade  them  good-bye,  and 
bounded  away  down  the  front  steps,  through  the 
garden  and  out  into  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

Freda  kept  the  negroes  engaged  for  ten  minutes 
longer,  and  no  one  saw  a  figure  that  passed  along 
by  the  other  side  of  the  house,  and  lightly  swung 
itself  up  through  the  window  of  Freddie's  now 
darkened  room. 

Freda  went  to  the  door  of  her  friend's  apartment, 
and  receiving  an  invitation,  went  in,  and  found 
Freddie  lying  on  her  bed,  with  her  handkerchief  to 
her  eyes. 

"It  is  so  hard,"  she  sobbed,  "to  see  so  little  of 
one's  only  brother." 

"  Why  didn't  he  stop  longer  ?  "  demanded  Miss 
Fanny,  who  had  come  in  as  usual  without  knocking. 

"It  was  impossible,"  sighed  Freddie,  "his  leave 
of  absence  had  expired." 

"Freddie ! "  said  Freda,  when  they  were  alone, 
"  I  did  not  suspect  you  of  being  such  a  dreadful 
hypocrite  ! " 

"  Not  a  hypocrite  at  all,  dear ;  only  an  actress." 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A    KU-KLUX    PLOT. 

GILBERT  was  placed  in  a  very  unpleasant  predica- 
ment in  being  the  depository  of  a  secret  unconsci- 
ously betrayed  to  him.  But  he  knew  that  the  most 
honorable  and  straightforward  course  was  to  corne 
to  a  thorough  explanation  and  understanding  on  the 
subject.  This  he  did  as  soon  as  his  patient  was  suf- 
ficiently recovered  to  bear  the  excitement  without 
injurious  consequences. 

Rupert  Forester,  strange  to  say,  seemed  to  be  in 
no  way  annoyed  that  his  family  secret  was  known 
to  another  person ;  nay,  it  seemed  that  half  the  bur- 
then was  removed  from  his  mind,  since  it  was  shared 
by  one  so  noble  and  true-hearted  as  he  knew  Gilbert 
Bracebridge  to.  be. 

On  one  point  only  there  was  no  confidence  between 
them.  Gilbert  could  not  bring  himself  to  speak  about 
Winifred ;  and  Rupert,  concluding  from  his  friend's 
silence  that  he  had  not  mentioned  her  during  his 
feverish  ravings,  also  forbore  to  allude  to  her;  and 
thus  the  mutual  silence  grew  upon  them  until  it 
became  almost  an  impossibility  for  either  of  them 
to  break  it. 

1 6  241 


242  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

Thus  they  went  on,  till  Rupert  could  be  left  with- 
out danger.  Gilbert  then  exacted  from  him  a  pro- 
mise that  he  would  await  his  return  in  the  quiet  and 
healthful  abode  which  he  had  found  for  him  a  few 
miles  out  of  the  noisy  city,  and  started  off  to  New 
York. 

On  inquiring  at  the  Freedmen's  Bureau,  he  learned 
that  Miss  Winifred  Trevanian  was  in  South  Caro- 
lina, teaching  a  colored  school,  within  a  few  miles 
of  the  place  where  he  had  himself  been  similarly  en- 
gaged immediately  after  the  war. 

'  A  few  days  later  he  was  wending  his  way  through 
a  wild  tract  of  forest  land,  with  a  knapsack  on  his 
back,  a  revolver  in  his  pocket,  and  a  Winchester 
rifle  over  his  shoulder. 

In  the  heart  of  the  wood  he  came  upon  a  small 
clearing,  on  which  stood  a  log  hut  rather  more  neatly 
built  than  the  generality  of  the  negroes'  cottages. 
An  acre  of  cultivated  ground,  which  surrounded  it, 
was  carefully  fenced,  and  bore  signs  of  unusually 
skilful  tillage. 

At  the  sound  of  his  footsteps  a  lean  and  wolfish- 
looking  dog  ran  towards  him,  barking  furiously; 
but  he  quickly  changed  his  hostile  demonstrations 
into  marks  of  delighted  recognition,  when  Gilbert 
spoke  to  him. 

The  man  who  lived  in  this  hut,  who  in  fact  owned 
it,  having  bought  the  solitary  acre  on  which  it  was 
built,  had  suffered  grievous  wrong  from  the  oppres- 
sors of  his  race,  even  beyond  the  lot  of  most  of  his 
people.  At  the  very  moment  when  freedom  seemed 


A     KU-KLUX    PLOT.  243 

almost  within  his  grasp,  towards  the  close  of  the 
war  (for  the  slaves  contrived  to  keep  themselves 
better  acquainted  with  the  progress  of  events  than 
their  masters  imagined),  when  he  knew  that  by  law 
they  were  already  free,  his  wife  and  children  had  been 
sold  to  the  speculators,  and  carried  away  to  the  far 
South.  His  half-sister,  too,  a  beautiful  mulatto  girl, 
and  the  half-sister  of  the  man  who  sold  her,  had 
been  taken  at  the  same  time.  He  had  never  been 
able  to  find  a  trace  of  them,  though  what  fate  awaited 
his  sister  and  his  pretty  young  daughters  it  was  not 
difficult  to  imagine. 

Gilbert  had  been  his  friend  during  the  period  of 
his  deepest  trouble.  He  had  assisted  him  to  buy  the 
bit  of  land,  and  had  toiled  many  a  day  to  clear  it,  and 
help  to  build  the  simple  dwelling.  It  was  no  won- 
der that  the  dog  knew  and  fawned  upon  him. 

"Are  you  at  home,  Sam?"  he  called  out,  as  he 
approached  the  door,  which  stood  wide  open. 

"  Come  in,  come  in,  for  God's  sake !  "  responded  a 
man's  voice,  interrupted  by  groans.  "  Who  is  it  ?  " 

"  Why,  Sam,  what  ails  you  ?  Have  you  got  the 
chills  ?  " 

The  owner  of  the  cottage  was  lying  on  his  bed, 
apparently  in  great  agony. 

"  Oh,  sir,"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  recognized  his  visi- 
tor, "  God  be  praised  that  you  are  come  !  I've  not 
got  the  chills,  sir,  but  my  leg  is  broken." 

"  That  must  be  seen  to,  first  of  all,"  said  Gilbert, 
cheerily;  "  and  don't  be  uneasy  about  it.  It's  not  the 
first  broken  limb  that  I  have  set,  by  many." 


244  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

With  great  skill  and  tenderness  he  reduced  the 
fracture,  and  bound  up  the  injured  limb  with  such 
appliances  as  he  could  improvise.  When  all  was 
done,  and  his  patient  somewhat  easier,  Gilbert  in- 
quired into  the  cause  of  the  accident. 

It  was  one  of  those  stories  of  cruelty,  perpetrated 
for  no  other  object  than  the  gratification  of  the  most 
devilish  wickedness,  so  many  of  which  are  current 
among  the  black  population. 

The  poor  fellow  was  returning  home  on  the  pre- 
vious day,  when  he  was  attacked  by  four  or  five 
men  (white,  I  need  hardly  say),  and  dragged  into  the 
midst  of  a  dense  mass  of  pine  and  cedar  wood,  on 
the  borders  of  a  large  and  deep  creek.  Whether 
their  object  was  to  hang  or  drown  him,  he  did  not 
know.  One  of  them  had  a  rope,  and  they  were 
searching  about  for  something,  probably,  he  thought, 
a  stone,  to  which  they  meant  to  tie  him,  in  order  to 
keep  him  down  in  the  water,  when  he  managed  to 
cut  his  bonds  asunder,  and  ran  for  his  life.  He  stum- 
bled over  a  fallen  tree  and  broke  his  leg,  and,  as  he 
lay  behind  it,  they  missed  him.  From  his  hiding 
place  he  saw  them  lighting  matches,  and  trying  to 
kindle  a  blaze  by  which  to  trace  him,  for  the  wood 
•was  so  thick  that  it  was  almost  as  dark  as  night. 
They  gave  up  the  search  at  length,  and  went  away. 

He  crawled  out,  and  was  fortunately  seen  by  an- 
other white  man,  who  had  compassion  on  his  sad 
plight,  and  cut  for  him  a  rude  sort  of  crutch  out  of  a 
forked  branch  of  a  tree.  With  this  he  managed  to  drag 
himself  home,  though  suffering  the  most  fearful  agony. 


A     KU-KLUX    PLOT.  245 

It  had  taken  him  all  the  night  to  accomplish  the  pain- 
ful journey  of  about  two  miles,  and  he  had  begun  to 
think  he  should  die  there,  unaided,  when  the  Lord  sent 
him  his  best  friend  at  the  time  of  his  greatest  need. 

Gilbert  not  only  nursed  and  doctored,  but  he 
cooked  for  him.  He  hewed  wood  and  kindled  a  fire; 
shot  some  game,  made  corn  cakes ;  and  all  the  time 
waited  on  his  poor  black  friend  with  as  much  assi- 
duity as  he  had  shown  towards  the  white  gentleman, 
Rupert  Forester.  The  fact  was,  that  Gilbert  be- 
lieved in  the  existence  of  black  gentlemen  as  well  as 
white  ones,  and  Sam  Watson  was  a  fine  specimen 
of  the  former  class. 

Finally,  when  night  came,  and  the  poor  sufferer 
slept,  soothed  by  the  cold  water  which  Gilbert  con- 
stantly applied  to  the  broken  limb,  the  latter  stretched 
himself  out  on  the  bare  floor,  and  slumbered  soundly. 

Day  after  day  he  continued  his  ministrations, 
never  leaving  the  cabin  except  in  search  of  game. 
One  day  the  nearest  neighbor  looked  in,  and  thence- 
forward Sam  had  no  lack  of  sympathizing  visitors 
and  willing  messengers,  when  any  article  was  re- 
quired from  the  stores.  The  presence  of  a  white 
man  in  the  hut  of  a  negro  was,  however,  kept  a  pro- 
found secret ;  for,  had  such  an  enormity  reached  the 
ears  of  the  "  chivalry,"  it  is  probable  that  nothirrg 
short  of  the  death  of  both  the  recreant  white  and 
the  presumptuous  black  would  have  satisfied  their 
outraged  honor. 

During  all  this  time  Gilbert  heard  not  a  word 
concerning  the  Winifred  of  whom  he  had  come  in 


246  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

search.  He  was  four  long  miles  from  the  district 
where  her  school  was  situated,  which  accounted  for 
her  name  not  being  mentioned  by  the  people  who 
came  to  Sam's  cottage ;  and,  as  for  uttering  it  him- 
self, that  was  impossible.  Even  when  he  thought 
of  her,  a  burning  blush  overspread  his  honest  brow, 
and  he  would  willingly  have  been  buried  a  thousand 
fathoms  beneath  the  sea.  Surely,  he  sometimes  said 
to  himself,  there  must  be  some  inherent,  fearful  de- 
pravity in  his  soul,  of  which  he  was  not  otherwise 
conscious,  that  he  could  have  fallen  in  love  with  his 
own  niece,  and  even  looked  his  passion  into  her 
eyes,  without  feeling  in  his  heart  the  remonstrances 
of  violated  nature.  Hj^  remorse  was  like  a  wolf 
gnawing  at  his  .vitals.  He  was,  in  his  own  esteem, 
an  outcast  from  humanity,  with  worse  than  the 
brand  of  Cain  upon  him.  At  times  his  horror  of  him- 
self was  so  great  he  was  only  restrained  from  suicide 
by  remembering  the  duty  that  he  owed  to  others. 

He  alone  could  restore  Rupert  to  happiness,  for 
he  alone  possessed  a  clew  to  Winifred's  abode. 
The  purpose  on  which  he  was  bent  was  to  bring 
them  together,  himself  unrecognized  by  her ;  to 
exact  from  Rupert  a  promise  to  keep  their  rela- 
tionship a  secret  from  her  (for  would  she  not  think 
of  him  with  loathing  and  shame  ?)  and  then  to  go 
among  the  most  uncivilized  of  the  Indian  tribes,  as  a 
social  missionary.  Not  to  cram  them  with  sectarian 
doctrines,  or  excite  them  to  spasmodic  conversions, 
before  they  understood  the  nature  of  a  moral  obliga- 
tion; but  to  commence  with  a  foundation  of  social  re- 


A     KU-KLUX    PLOT.  247 

form,  advance  then  to  the  moral,  and  let  the  religious 
be,  what  it  should  be,  the  natural  outgrowth  of  these. 

Sam  was  now  rapidly  improving,  and  Gilbert  saw  it 
was  time  to  bestir  himself,  especially  as  many  tales 
were  rife  of  outrages  committed  by  a  band  of  Ku- 
Klux,  or,  as  the  negroes  generally  called  them,  Bush- 
whackers; and  of  threats  fulminated  by  various  white 
men  of  the  Democratic  party,  against  the  Northern 
teachers  who  persisted  in  giving  instruction  to  the 
despised  colored  children. 

He  therefore  took  the  opportunity  afforded  by  the 
presence  of  a  visitor  who  could  remain  till  his  return, 
and  went  to  make  a  reconnaissance. 

As  he  drew  near  the  school-house,  the  troops  of 
children,  with  their  satchels  and  dinner-buckets,  gui- 
ded him  on  the  way  without  inquiry.  They  were  hurry- 
ing home  to  escape  an  impending  storm,  which  added 
to  the  growing  darkness  of  the  November  evening. 

The  school-house  was  a  rough  building  of  logs, 
with  a  chimney  built  of  stones  and  mud,  from  which 
a  smoke  was  still  rising. 

There  was  no  fastening  on  the  door,  so  he  pushed 
it  open  and  entered,  just  as  the  storm  of  rain  and 
sleet  came  down  in  real  earnest. 

As  the  shutters  were  closed  over  the  unglazed 
windows,  the  interior  would  have  been  in  total  dark- 
ness, but  for  a  few  rays  of  light  that  came  down  the 
chimney  and  through  the  ill-fitting  boards  that  com- 
posed the  roof.  The  floor  was  only  the  bare  earth, 
beaten  hard  by  the  children's  feet;  the  seats  were 
benches  of  hewn  pine,  of  the  rudest  construction.  I 


248  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

Gilbert  pushed  the  smouldering  logs  together,  re- 
solving to  remain  under  shelter  till  the  storm  was  over. 
Placing  a  form  before  the  hearth,  he  stretched  himself 
upon  it  and  fell  asleep,  lulled  by  the  monotonous  patter- 
ing of  the  rain  upon  the  roof,  and  the  whistling  of  the 
wind  through  the  thousand  crevices  of  the  building. 

The  sound  of  trampling  hoofs,  and  the  voices  of 
several  men,  speaking  in  cautious  tones,  awoke  him 
with  a  start.  The  fire  was  out,  and  the  darkness  was 
impenetrable,  but  he  remembered  the  position  of  the 
forms  well  enough  to  enable  him  to  find  his  way  to' 
the  further  end  of  the  house  without  making  any 
noise.  He  there  lay  down  close  to  the  wall,  where 
only  a  powerful  light,  or  very  close  inspection,  could 
discover  him. 

The  door  was  thrown  open,  and  several  persons 
entered. 

"  Can  you  get  a  light  ?  "  asked  one.  "  We  had 
better  see  that  no  one  else  is  sheltering  in  the 
damned  old  shanty." 

Some  matches  were  struck,  and  a  hasty  examina- 
tion made,  which  satisfied  them  that  no  eaves- 
droppers were  present.  The  temporary  gleam 
showed  Gilbert  five  men,  four  of  whom  bore  the 
unmistakable  stamp  of  their  Southern  origin ;  but 
the  fifth  he  could  not  so  easily  make  out.  As  he 
held  a  match  and  came  near  to  him,  Gilbert  had  a 
good  view  of  his  face ;  and  a  more"  hideous  counte- 
nance he  had  never  beheld.  It  was,  in  fact,  that  of 
Captain  Grainger.  He  had  called  in  the  aid  of  art 
to  conceal  his  deformity ;  and  a  wig,  a  glass  eye, 


A    KU-KLUX  PLOT.  249 

and  false  teeth,  beard,  and  moustache,  did  something 
towards  making  him  less  repulsive;  but  the  loss 
of  his  nose  could  not  be  hidden,  while  the  fixed 
stare  of  the  artificial  eye  contrasted  strangely  with 
"the  restlessness  of  the  living  one. 

The  brief  glimmer  of  the  matches  expired,  and 
much  to  Gilbert's  satisfaction,  no  more  were  lighted. 

"  It  is  understood,  then,  gentlemen,"  said  one, 
who  appeared  from  his  tone  to  exercise  some 
authority  over  the  rest,  "that  we  are  to  meet  at  the 
cross  roads  to-morrow  night,  at  eleven  o'clock." 

"  We  all  understand  that,"  replied  the  others. 

"  I  propose,  as  an  amendment,  that  we  meet  here," 
said  one,  "  it  is  nearer  the  place  we  are  going  to, 
and  is,  besides,  more  retired." 

"  Very  well,"  replied  the  leader,  "  let  it  be  here, 
then,  and  at  eleven,  punctually." 

"  Why  wait  till  to-morrow  night  ?  "  demanded  a 
voice  which  Gilbert  felt  sure  was  that  of  an  English- 
man, and  which  from  its  snuffling  intonation,  he 
had  no  hesitation  in  ascribing  to  the  man  who  had 
lost  his  nose ;  "  we  have  our  disguises  here, — why 
lose  any  time  about  it  ?  " 

"  Ay,  why  indeed  ?  "  said  another.  "  There  are 
five  of  us, — our  friend  here  says  there  is  but  one  bull 
nigger  on  the  place,  so  we  shall  only  have  to  deal 
with  the  two  women.  Why  wait  till  to-morrow  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  gentlemen,"  cried  another,  anxiously; 
"  remember  your  promise,  and  give  me  time  to  get 
my  sister  out  of  the  way.  I'll  take  her  to  a  revival 
meeting  to-morrow,  and  she  will  stay  away  all 


250  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

night.  That  will  give  you  a  good  chance.  You 
would  be  but  four,  any  way,  if  you  went  on  to- 
night, for  I  could  not  very  well  join  in  an  attack  on 
my  own  house." 

"  It  must  be  to-morrow,  as  we  agreed,"  said  the 
leader;  "  four  would  be  more  than  enough  for  the 
work,  but  it  is  best  to  show  an  overwhelming  force." 

"  I  trust  you  will  warn  them  all  to  be  careful,  and 
do  no  injury  to  the  house,"  said  the  man  who  had 
objected  to  an  immediate  attack.  "  You  may  shoot 
the  Yankee  school  marms  if  you  will,  but  don't 
injure  my  property." 

"  Your  property  shall  be  respected,  as  I  have 
promised ;  but  those  girls  must  be  driven  away. 
Curse  them !  I  thought  when  I  sold  them  that 
fiery  devil  of  a  horse  that  I  had  as  good  as  broken 
both  their  necks.  But  that  tall  girl  has  him  as 
tame  as  a  pet  lamb.  She  came  riding  past  my 
house  the  other  day,  for  nothing  in  the  world  but  to 
show  him  off." 

"  She  rides  splendidly,"  observed  one. 

"  I  wish  she'd  ride  to  hell !  "  growled  the  leader. 
"  Is  it  not  enough  that  we  are  taxed  to  pay  for  educa- 
ting our  own  chattels,  as  if  they  were  our  equals, 
but  we  must  submit  to  be  insulted  by  these  upstart 
minxes  ?  " 

"  Gentlemen,  the  rain  is  over,"  said  the  one-eyed 
man  ;  "  if  we  are  not  to  proceed  at  once  to  business, 
we  had  better  be  moving  homewards.  And  here 
let  me  beg  that  all  who  join  our  little  expedition  to- 
morrow, may  be  duly  notified  that  I  have  stipulated 


A   KU-KLUX  PLOT.  251 

for  time  to  overhaul  the  luggage  of  these  women, 
and  take  possession  of  a  box  of  valuable  documents 
which  belongs  to  me,  and  of  which  they  have  ob- 
tained unlawful  possession." 

"  I  don't  like  to  dirty  my  hands  with  anything 
that  looks  like  robbery,"  said  one  of  the  men, 
haughtily. 

"  Nor  I,"  said  another.  "  I'll  have  nothing  to  do 
with  it." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  leader,  "  he  has  explained 
the  case  to  me,  and  I  have  promised  that  we  will 
wait  for  him,  while  he  looks  for  his  papers.  Nothing 
more  will  be  required  of  you." 

They  left  the  hut.  Hasty  "  good-nights  "  were 
exchanged,  and  the  sound  of  their  horses'  hoofs  was 
soon  lost  in  the  distance. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

A    NIGHT   ATTACK. 

THE  two  young  teachers  anticipated  a  quiet,  com- 
fortable evening,  secure  from  the  tiresome  intrusion 
of  Miss  Fanny  Kitely,  who  had  gone  with  her 
brother  to  hear  a  revivalist  preacher,  and  would  not 
return  till  the  following  evening. 

The  time  passed  quickly  away,  and  they  were 
about  to  separate  for  the  night,  when  a  heavy  foot- 
fall was  heard  slowly  ascending  the  front  steps. 

Freda  turned  pale,  and  Freddie  put  her  hand  on 
her  revolver. 

They  listened  anxiously.  There  was  one  feeble 
knock  against  the  door,  and  that  was  all. 

"  I'll  ask  who  it  is,"  said  Freddie,  going  out  into 
the  entry;  "no  danger  can  come  with  such  a  feeble- 
minded knock  as  that.  Who's  out  there  ? "  she 
demanded,  resolutely. 

"  It's  me,  Miss  Fanny,"  answered  a  quavering 
voice,  as  of  a  very  old  man. 

"  And  who  are  you  ?  " 

"  Don't  you  know  me  ?  I'm  Job  Parsons.  Can 
you  give  me  shelter  for  the  night  ?  " 

Convinced  that  the  person  outside  was  old  and 
252 


A     NIGHT    ATTACK.  253 

feeble,  Freddie  opened  the  door,  and  beheld  an  old 
white-headed  man,  whose  bowed  figure  and  shabby 
clothes  betokened  his  age  and  poverty. 

"  Will  you  tell  Miss  Fanny  I'm  here  ?  "  he  said, 
and  his  weak  tremulous  voice  sounded  very  pathetic. 
"  She'll  not  refuse  me  a  shelter,  I  know.  She  never 
does." 

"  Miss  Fanny  is  not  at  home  to-night,"  replied 
Freddie,  "  but  you  had  better  come  in  and  rest,  and 
I'll  see  if  you  can  be  accommodated  with  a  lodging." 

"  For  God's  sake,  miss,  don't  send  me  further  this 
night.  I'm  done  tired  out  now,  and  I've  got  the 
rheumatics  so  bad  I  can  hardly  walk." 

In  effect  it  was  evident,  as  he  hobbled  into  the 
house,  that  his  left  knee  was  quite  stiffened.  Freda 
had  now  come  forward,  and  her  tender  heart  was 
greatly  moved  by  the  forlorn  looks  of  the  visitor, 
and  especially -by  the  shabby  genteel  appearance 
which  was  imparted  to  him  by  a  miserably  ragged 
old  pair  of  cotton  gloves  which  covered  his  trem- 
bling hands. 

"  We  can't  turn  him  out  on  such  a  cold  night," 
she  whispered  to  Freddie,-  "  poor  old  man !  He 
would  perish  before  he  went  another  mile,  so  lame 
as  he  is.  If  he  is  a  friend  of  Miss  Fanny's,  let 
him  have  her  room.  I'm  sure  she  would  not  object 
to  it." 

"  I  think  I  will  call  Hannah  over  to  see  if  she 
knows  him,"  said  Freddie. 

"  They  all  went  to  bed  long  ago,  and  you  would 
not  be  able  to  waken  them,"  said  Freda ;  "  let  the 


254  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

poor  man  have  Miss  Fanny's  room.  It  is  quite 
impossible  to  send  him  away.  It  would  be  enough 
to  kill  him." 

Thus  then  it  was  arranged.  The  offer  of  refresh- 
ment being  thankfully  declined,  the  aged  visitor 
was  inducted  into  the  room  made  vacant  by  Miss 
Fanny's  absence,  and  the  young  ladies  returned  to 
the  apartment  they  had  just  quitted,  where  they  sat 
for  a  while  talking  over  the  fire. 

Freddie  had  just  concluded  the  narration  of  Miss 
Thudichum's  adventure  with  the  pie,  when  the  dogs 
in  the  yard  set  up  a  vociferous  barking,  entirely 
drowning  the  noise  of  horses'  feet  which  would 
otherwise  have  been  audible  in  the  front  garden. 

"  I  wonder  what  ails  the  dogs  ?  "  said  Freda. 

"  Coons  or  'possums,  perhaps,"  replied  Freddie, 
going  to  the  window  and  peeping  out  beside  the 
curtain. 

There  was  no  moon,  but  by  the  dim  light  of  the 
few  stars  that  were  visible,  she  saw  that  the  garden 
was  filled  with  horsemen,  enveloped  in  white  dra- 
peries that  descended  from  their  heads  to  the  ground, 
concealing  both  horse  and  man  completely. 

"  Be  brave,  Freda,"  she  said,  in  a  firm  voice,  "the 
Ku-Klux  are  here.  That  man  may  be  one  of  them. 
I'll  lock  hirii  in." 

She  ran  into  the  entry,  Freda  following  with  the 
lamp,  very  pale,  but  as  collected  as  herself.  She 
locked  the  door  where  they  supposed  the  old  man 
to  be  sleeping,  and  at  the  same  moment  a  violent 
knocking  was  commenced,  accompanied  by  repeated 


A     NIGHT    ATTACK.  255 

commands  from  those  without  to  open  the  door. 
But  the  old  man  was  not  secured.  There  he  stood, 
erect  and  vigorous,  every  trace  of  decrepitude  gone, 
excepting  his  silvery  hair;  his  knee  no  longer  stiff 
with  rheumatism,  but  a  large  rifle  in  his  hands. 

"  Go  in  there,  and  keep  quiet,"  he  said,  pointing 
to  the  room  they  had  just  left;  "don't  bother  me, 
and  I  will  protect  you." 

"  I  will  protect,  myself,"  cried  Freddie,  drawing 
her  revolver,  and  eyeing  him  fiercely;  "if  you  play 
us  false,  your  life  shall  be  the  first  to  be  sacrificed ! " 

"  Brave  girl,"  he  responded,  calmly,  "  let  it  be 
so !  But  let  me  have  a  shot  at  these  fellows  first." 

He  opened  the  door  a  few  inches,  planting  his 
foot  against  it  to  prevent  the  ingress  of  any  of  the 
assailants  ;  looked  out  for  an  instant,  and  then  fired. 
There  was  a  cry  and  the  sound  of  a  fall.  Again  and 
again  the  deadly  report  of  the  terrible  breech-loader 
rang  through  the  midnight  air.  There  were  cries  as 
of  pain,  oaths  and  imprecations,  and  the  confused 
trampling  of  horses.  The  stranger  flung  the  door 
wide,  and  fired  after  the  ruffians,  now  in  full  retreat, 
though  shooting  back  at  random.  Freddie  came  to 
his  side,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  that  more 
than  one  carried  away  a  memento  from  her  revolver. 

Freda  acted  with  wonderful  courage  and  presence 
of  mind.  When  his  first  shot  convinced  her  that 
their  mysterious  inmate  was  indeed  a  friend,  and  not 
an  accomplice  of  the  enemy,  she  drew  aside  the  cur- 
tains from  the  front  window,  and  held  the  lamp  close 
to  the  glass  in  such  a  way  as  to  throw  its  light  upon 


256  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

the  white-robed  figures,  and  render  them  a  good 
mark  for  the  rifle  of  their  brave  defender. 

In  the  space  of  two  minutes  from  the  first  alarm, 
nothing  was  left  of  the  affray  but  a  strong  smell  of 
gunpowder,  and  the  wounded  man. 

The  stranger  was  gone;  how  or  where,  they  knew 
no  more  than  they  knew  where  the  eddying  wreaths 
of  smoke  had  vanished. 

"He  was  here!"  said  Freddie,  as  though  half 
doubtful  of  her  own  senses. 

"  I  am  sure  he  was,"  repeated  Freda,  in  much  the 
same  state  of  mind. 

They  looked  into  Miss  Fanny's  room ;  but  found 
no  trace  of  him  but  the  old  cotton  gloves,  which 
Freda  took  possession  of,  and  carefully  preserved 
out  of  gratitude  to  their  unknown  deliverer. 

Now  that  the  danger  was  over,  both  the  girls 
were  trembling  violently,  and  seemed  to  have 
lost  the  self-possession  which  had  sustained  them 
in  the  time  of  actual  trial.  A  groan  from  the 
wounded  man  made  them  start,  and  Freda  closed 
the  door  hurriedly,  and  drew  the  bolt. 

"  It's  the  man  that  was  shot,"  said  Freddie ;  "  he 
can't  hurt  us.  We  ought  to  see  to  him,  though  he 
is  a  Ku-Klux.  Perhaps  our  friend  is  with  him." 

She  took  the  lamp  and  went  out.  The  man  was 
lying  where  he  had  fallen,  at  the  foot  of  the  steps, 
with  his  face  upturned,  and  surrounded  by  a  pool 
of  blood.  Freddie  lowered  her  lamp  to  look  at  him ; 
but  instantly  started  back,  bounded  up  the  steps,  and 
fastened  the  door. 


A     NIGHT    ATTACK.  257 

A  great  horror  was  on  her  face  as  she  turned  and 
looked  at  Freda,  speechless  and  pale. 

"  Oh,  what  is  it?     Tell  me,  Freddie,  what  is  it?  " 

"  We  must  not  have  that  man  in  here,"  whispered 
Freddie ;  "  how  could  the  wretch  have  tracked  you  ? 
Oh,  if  he  would  only  die  there !  But  we  must  call 
for  help,  and  have  him  sent  somewhere,  till  the 
police,  if  there  be  a  police  in  this  lawless  region,  can 
take  charge  of  him." 

"  But,  Freddie,  who  is  it  ?     Pray  tell  me  at  once." 

"  It's  that  horrible  one-eyed  man — that  Captain 
Grainger — against  whom  your  Rupert  warned  me  so 
earnestly.  We  must  make  our  escape  while  he  is  in 
prison,  unless  he  dies.  Hark,  they've  come  back  to 
fetch  him  !  I  hear  voices  outside." 

They  listened  anxiously,  dreading  a  renewal  of 
the  assault ;  but  the  rich  soft  tones  were  those  of 
Africans,  and  consequently  of  friends. 

The  door  was  thrown  open  instantly.  There  were 
about  a  dozen  black  men  standing  round  the  woun- 
ded ruffian,  many  of  them  armed  with  guns. 

"The  Lord  be  praised,"  burst  from  several  voices  as 
the  teachers  appeared,  "the  ladies  is  safe!  We  heard 
the  firing  and  came  as  quick  as  we  could,  but  the 
bush-whackers  was  all  done  gone  when  we  got  here." 

"  Did  they  shoot  at  you  ladies  ?  Did  they  shoot 
all  the  guns  we  heard  ?  Did  they  hurt  you  any  ? 
Thank  the  Lord,  you  are  alive  !  " 

These  questions  and  exclamations  came  thick  and 
fast,  accompanied  by  fervent  hand-shakings,  laugh- 
ter and  tears. 
17 


258  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  The  best  part  of  the  shooting  was  on  our  side," 
replied  Freddie,  "  as  that  poor  wretch  proves.  We 
had  a  powerful  friend  to  defend  us ;  a  stranger,  who 
came  and  begged  a  night's  lodging,  saying  he  was  a 
friend  of  Miss  Fanny's.  He  looked  like  a  very  old 
man,  and  quite  lame ;  but  his  lame  leg  must  have 
been  made  by  hiding  his  rifle  inside  his  trousers, 
for  he  came  out,  strong  and  active,  and  defended  us 
so  bravely.  Can  you  guess  who  he  was  ?  " 

"  That  must  have  been  the  tall  man  we  met  in  the 
road,  who  told  us  to  come  on  here  quickly." 

"  Who  was  he  ?     Which  way  was  he  going  ?  " 

"  It  must  have  been  one  of  themselves,  I  reckon, 
and  the  Lord  Jesus  had  done  converted  him." 

"  Mos'  likely  it  was  Mas'r  Dick,"  said  a  young 
fellow  who  had  not  yet  spoken. 

"  What,  Mr.  Roy ! "  exclaimed  Freddie,  con- 
temptuously; "this  man  was  head  and  shoulders 
taller  than  Mr.  Roy,  and  strong  as  a  lion." 

"  No,  no  !  "  repeated  two  or  three  of  the  negroes, 
"  the  man  we  met  was  not  Mr.  Roy." 

"  Now,  my  friends,"  said  Freda,  "  something  must 
be  done  for  that  man.  We  cannot  have  him  in  here, 
Miss  Fanny  would  not  like  it.  If  there  is  a  con- 
stable you  had  better  fetch  him,  or  carry  the  man  to 
his  house." 

"  I  reckon  we  can  tote  him.  That'll  be  the 
shortest  way." 

"  Yes,  by  all  means  tote  him  away,"  said  Freddie, 
"  and  I  hope  that  some  of  you  who  have  guns,  will 
remain  about  the  place  the  rest  of  the  night." 


A     NIGHT    ATTACK.  259 

All  the  women  and  children  on  the  premises  were 
astir  by  this  time.  They  had  heard  the  trampling 
of  the  horses,  the  loud  voices,  and  the  shots,  but 
had  not  ventured  out,  lest  they  should  draw  upon 
themselves  the  malice  of  their  vindictive  oppressors. 

The  young  ladies  made  free  with  Miss  Fanny's 
stores,  and  gave  out  a  liberal  allowance  of  coffee, 
sugar,  bacon,  and  flour,  from  which  the  women 
proceeded  to  prepare  a  relishing  supper  for  the 
guard. 

"  And  then,"  observed  Freddie,  "  as  Dan  Fletcher 
is  there,  they  will  be  sure  to  extemporize  a  prayer- 
meeting,  which  will  keep  them  lively  till  morning." 

"  Does  it  seem  credible,"  said  Freda,  looking  at 
her  watch,  "  that  it  is  only  half  an  hour  since  we 
sat  here  and  said  it  was  time  to  go  to  bed  ?  I  have 
not  had  time  even  to  think  of  all  that  has  hap- 
pened !  How  wonderful  it  seems  that  Captain 
Grainger  should  have  been  amongst  those — those 
demons ! "  • 

"  Birds  of  a  feather  flock  together,"  replied  Fred- 
die. "And  there  is  yet  another  wonderful  fact, 
Freda,  that  I  'have  only  just  remembered.  Before 
our  friend  fired  his  first  shot,  he  looked  out,  and 
took  a  careful  aim.  That  shot  no  doubt  brought 
down  Captain  Grainger." 

"  How  could  that  be,  dear,  when  they  were  alt 
disguised  so  that  they  looked  alike  ?  " 

"  Some  of  them  were  talking, — I  heard  one  of 
them  say,  '  Remember  your  promise,  gentlemen,  and 
wait  for  me,' — and  then  the  gun  went  off,  and  I 


26o  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

heard  a  yell,  and  a  fall  on  the  steps.  Oh,  Freda ! 
When  I  heard  that,  I  felt  like  fighting ! " 

"  You  wild  creature ! "  said  Freda,  caressingly. 
"  And  you  did  fight.  I  heard  a  pistol  going  off,  as 
well  as  a  rifle." 

"  Don't  you  talk,  Miss  Propriety !  "  cried  Freddie, 
breaking  into  a  laugh ;  "  who  held  the  light,  I 
wonder  ?  " 

"  And  who,  I  wonder,"  said  Freda,  "  is  that  noble 
man  who  must  have  come  here  to-night,  purposely 
to  protect  us  ?  Why  did  he  come  in  that  disguise  ? 
How  did  he  know  the  very  time  appointed  for  their 
murderous  attack?  I  can  only  account  for  it  on 
the  supposition  of  his  belonging  to  their  gang,  but 
repenting  of  his  participation  in  their  crimes,  and 
resolving  to  atone  for  it  by  at  least  one  good  deed." 

"  No,  indeed,  you  are  wrong ! "  replied  Freddie, 
warmly.  r.  "  I  am  positive  that  he  does  not,  and 
never  did,  belong  to  them.  Use  your  senses,  Freda. 
Does  he  look  like  a  midnight  assassin  ?  " 

"  My  dear  Freddie,"  said  Freda,  laying  her  hand 
on  her  friend's  shoulder,  and  looking  earnestly  in 
her  face ;  "  you  are  not  quite  frank  with  me.  You 
believe  this  stranger  to  be  a  certain  somebody  of 
whose  existence  you  have  never  yet  told  me,  though 
you  know  all  the  story  of  my  love.  Who  is  he  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  sobbed  Freddie,  sliding  on  to 
the  floor,  and  burying  her  face  in  Freda's  lap. 
"  There  is  nothing  to  tell.  I  only  saw  him  once  !  " 

"  Oh,  Freddie  !  Freddie  !  You  in  tears  !  This  is 
terrible  !  "  said  Freda,  as  she  tenderly  drew  her  wet 


A     NIGHT    ATTACK.  261 

cheek  upon  her  bosom.  "  But  there  must  be  some- 
thing to  tell,  if  there  is  enough  to  weep  about. 
What  is  it,  dearest  ?  Have  you  not  comforted  me 
in  my  sorrows,  and  will  you  refuse  me  a  share  in 
your  own  ?  " 

And  then,  amid  sobs  and  blushes,  Freddie  con- 
fided to  her  companion  the  story  of  her  meeting 
with  Gilbert,  and  every  word — so  carefully  treasured 
up  in  her  memory — that  he  had  said  to  her.  And 
how  she  loved  him,  with  a  love  that  gathered 
strength  from  its  very  hopelessness ;  and  how  she 
had  never  thought  to  see  him  again,  but  was  resolved 
to  live  and  die  unmarried,  for  his  sake.  In  conclu- 
sion, she  told  how  for  one  moment,  and  one  mo- 
ment only,  she  had  thought  she  recognized  him 
under  the  disguise  of  their  white-haired  visitor.  It 
was  when,  thrown  off  his  guard  by  the  urgency  of 
the  situation,  he  had  called  her  a  brave  girl,  and 
given  her  leave  to  shoot  him  after  he  had  fired  at 
their  assailants. 

"  But,  after  all,"  she  sighed,  "  I  don't  believe  it 
could  be  he.  How  could  he  know  where  I  was? 
And  is  it  likely  he  would  follow  me  if  he  did  know  ? 
And  supposing  he  had  followed  me,  why  should  he 
disguise  himself,  and  run  the  risk  of  being  refused 
admittance  ?  " 

"  After  advising  you  to  apply  to  the  bureau,  what 
more  easy  than  to  inquire  for  you  there?  " 

"  But  he  did  not  know  my  name,"  said  Freddie. 

"  Could  he  not  have  ascertained  it  before  he  left 
the  village  ?  " 


262  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

Freddie  smiled.  It  is  so  pleasant  to  have  such 
objections  overruled. 

"  Secondly,  why  should  he  give  you  all  that-  ad- 
vice, and  all  those  instructions,  unless  he  wanted  to 
have  a  clew  by  which  to  follow  you  ?  " 

Another  smile,  accompanied  by  a  sigh  of  con- 
tentment. 

"  And  for  your  last  objection, — I  take  it  for  granted 
that  he  had  good  reasons  for  assuming  that  disguise, 
which  he  will  explain  in  due  time.  For,  take  my 
word  for  it,  Freddie,  we  have  not  seen  the  last  of 
him;  and  it  is  an  immense  consolation  to  me  to 
know  that  we  have  such  a  protector  near  us." 

The  smile  was  accompanied  this  time  by  a  hearty 
kiss. 

"  Crying  makes  my  head  ache,"  said  Freddie, 
very  much  subdued ;  "  let  us  lie  down  on  your  bed 
awhile,  dear,  and  rest,  even  if  we  cannot  sleep." 

Freddie,  however,  soon  fell  asleep;  and  Freda, 
with  a  new-born  sentiment  of  patronage  and  pro- 
tection towards  her  strong  and  courageous  friend, 
lay  awake  till  morning,  brooding  over  her,  in  spirit, 
like  a  maternal  dove. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

FRIENDLY   ADVICE. 

FREDDIE'S  first  idea,  on  awaking,  was  that  she 
had  been  under  the  influence  of  a  terrible  dream ; 
but  the  events  of  the  past  night  quickly  presented 
themselves  to  her  mind  as  realities,  and  Freda's  com- 
forting arguments  also  recurred  to  her;  the  natural 
consequence  of  which  was  that  she  bestowed  more 
than  usual  care  upon  her  dress  and  appearance.  Her 
trouble  was  thrown  away,  however,  for  nobody  came, 
except  Miss  Fanny,  whose  wonderings  and  question- 
ings about  the  occurrences  of  the  previous  night 
were  as  tormenting  as  an  army  of  mosquitoes. 

They  did  not  think  it  safe  to  keep  school,  lest 
their  enemies,  goaded  by  their  recent  defeat,  should 
carry  out  their,  often-repeated  threat  of  burning  the 
school-house,  and  they  could  only  escape  from  Miss 
Fanny's  persecution  by  locking  her  out ; — an  expe- 
dient to  which  her  extreme  ignorance  of  the  usages 
of  civilized  life,  sometimes  compelled  them  to  resort. 

One  of  Miss  Fanny's  peculiarities  was  a  habit  of 
talking  at  the  full  pitch  of  her  voice,  which  afforded 
her  inmates  the  opportunity  of  enjoying  her  intel- 
lectual conversation  whenever  they  chose  to  listen. 

263 


264  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  What  is  she  talking  about  now  ?  "  said  Freda. 

"  That  don't  make  no  difference,  I  reckon,"  Miss 
Fanny  was  heard  to  say ;  "  give  it  to  me, — it's  all 
the  same.  No,  nor  you  can't  go  in,  I  tell  you,  nor 
you  can't  see  'em ;  for  the  door's  locked.  And  if 
it's  locked  for  me,  it's  locked  for  a  nigger,  I  reckon. 
What  are  you  afraid  of?  " 

"  I  wasn't  to  give  it  to  nobody  but  one  of  the 
ladies,"  was  shouted  out  by  a  powerful  young  Afri- 
can voice,  with  the  evident  intention  of  making 
himself  heard  inside  the  house. 

"  Well, — you  needn't  deafen  one  with  your  shout- 
ing !  "  screamed  Miss  Fanny.  "  Why  don't  you  give 
it  to  me,  then  ?  Aint  I  one  of  the  ladies  ?" 

A  loud  laugh  was  the  only  audible  response. 

"  It  must  be  something  for  us,"  said  Freddie, 
going  out 

A  boy  of  ten  or  twelve  stood  in  the  yard,  and 
beside  him  Miss  Fanny,  in  a  wild  state  of  excite- 
ment. The  moment  Freddie  appeared,  the  lad  pulled 
off  his  cap,  and  held  out  a  paper  to  her,  saying, 

"  Please  'm,  here's  a  letter  for  you." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Freddie,  as  she  took  it  from 
him ;  "  please  wait  till  I  see  whether  it  requires  an 
answer." 

"  What  is  it  about  ? "  demanded  Miss  Fanny, 
running  up  the  steps,  and  following  Freddie  to  the 
door  df  the  room  where  Freda  was,  with  the  mani- 
fest design  of  pushing  herself  in. 

"  Miss  Fanny,"  said  Freddie,  turning  on  the 
threshold  and  confronting  her,  "  I  cannot  tell  what 


FRIENDLY    ADVICE.  265 

it  is  about  until  I  have  read  it.  Neither  do  I  yet 
know  whether  it  belongs  to  my  friend  or  to  myself. 
But  when  we  have  read  it,  should  we  find  that  it 
in  any  way  concerns  you,  we  will  certainly  inform 
you  of  it." 

She  stepped  backward,  and  by  a  quick  movement, 
closed  the  door,  and  drew  the  bolt. 

"  Well,  I  never !  "  ejaculated  Miss  Fanny,  and  im- 
mediately she  proceeded  to  question  the  messenger, 
and  try  to  find  out  who  had  sent  the  missive  which 
so  strongly  stimulated  her  curiosity. 

The  note  was  written  on  a  scrap  of  soiled  and 
rumpled  paper  that  looked  as  if  it  had  been  the  fly- 
leaf of  a  book.  It  was  written  in  pencil,  in  a  fine 
'bold  masculine  hand,  but  bore  no  signature  nor 
superscription. 

The  two  girls  read  it  at  the  same  time : 

"  It  is  not  safe  for  you  to  remain  where  you  now 
are.  An  imperative  duty  demands  your  presence  in 
California,  though  you  know  it  not.  Send  a  line  by 
the  bearer,  saying  by  what  train  you  will  set  off, 
and  you  will  be  protected  on  your  journey  by  one 
who  has  already  served  you." 

"  What  shall  we  do  ?  "  said  Freda. 

"  Do  ? "  repeated  Freddie,  "  do  as  he  says,  cer- 
tainly. We  are  not  safe  here,  there's  no  question 
about  that.  And  why  should  we  not  go  to  Cali- 
fornia as  well  as  anywhere  else  ?  " 

"  How  can  we  be  sure  that  this  is  not  a  ruse  of 
the  enemy  ?  "  said  the  cautious  Freda.  "  There  is  a 
tone  of  mystery  about  that  imperative  duty  which 


266  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

demands  our  presence  in  California,  that  I  don't 
like.  A  warning  to  us  to  leave  this  neighborhood 
is  nothing,  for  we  have  already  determined  to  leave 
it.  But  why  try  to  induce  us  to  go  to  California? 
Isolated  creatures  as  we  both  are,  to  whom  can  we 
owe  any  especial  duty  ?  /at  least  owe  none,  except 
to  Rupert, — but  that  is  utterly  incredible  and  im- 
possible." 

There  was  a  shudder  in  Freddie's  voice,  as  she 
whispered,  "  Ernest  Templeman  !  " 

"  Was  he  the  man  who  defended  us  ?  "  exclaimed 
Freda,  in  astonishment. 

"  No,  no,  no  !  A  thousand  times  no!  "  vociferated 
Freddie,  "  but  he  may  be  here  with  Captain  Grain- 
ger, and  this  may  be  a  plot  contrived  between  them. 
We  must  be  very  careful." 

"  I'll  write  a  note,"  said  Freda,  "  and  if  you  agree 
to  it,  we  can  send  it." 

She  wrote  as  follows  : 

"  We  cannot  place  implicit  confidence  in  a  person 
who,  without  any  apparent  reason,  shrouds  himself 
in  mystery.  If  the  writer  of  the  note  will  prove  to 
us  that  he  is  the  friend  to  whom  we  are  already  so 
deeply  indebted,  we  will  follow  his  counsel,  though 
we  should  prefer  to  know  the  nature  of  the  duty 
which,  he  asserts,  calls  us  so  far  away." 

"  That's  excellent,"  exclaimed  Freddie ;  "  but 
there's  another  difficulty  in  the  way — the  horses." 

"We  cannot  part  with  them,"  said  Freda,  "though 
how  to  manage  about  them  I  don't  know.  I'll  tell 
him  the  difficulty.  .  He  may  suggest  something." 


FRIENDLY    ADVICE.  267 

Forthwith  she  added  to  the  note  :  "  We  are  like- 
wise determined  not  to  leave  our  favorite  horses  to 
the  mercy  of  our  enemies.  It  will  take  time  to  ar- 
range for  their  transit,  as  money  must  be  obtained 
from  New  York." 

Freddie  took  this  note  to  the  messenger,  and  saw 
him  start  off  at  a  rapid  pace. 

"  You  wouldn't  tell  me  your  secret,  and  now  I 
wont  tell  you  what  /'ve  heard,"  screamed  Miss 
Fanny,  close  to  her  ear. 

"  You  are  very  welcome  to  keep  it  to  yourself," 
replied  Freddie,  good-humoredly;  "you  know  that  I 
don't  trouble  myself  much  about  other  people's  af- 
fairs, Miss  Fanny." 

Freddie  did  not  bolt  the  door  again,  and  was  dis- 
cussing with  Freda  whether  she  should  write  at 
once  to  the  New  York  bank  for  a  remittance,  or 
wait  till  they  heard  again  from  their  unknown  ad- 
viser, when  Miss  Fanny  came  in  and  sat  down  by 
the  fire. 

"  So  you  don't  care  to  hear  the  news  ?  "  she  re- 
marked. 

"  Not  unless  it  is  anything  that  concerns  us,"  re- 
plied Freda. 

"  Well,  I  reckon  this  don't  concern  you  at  all," 
said  Miss  Fanny;  "it's  only  about  the  poor  fellow 
that  was  shot  last  night." 

Had  Miss  Fanny  been  a  keen  observer,  she  would 
have  seen  that  both  her  auditors  gave  a  perceptible 
start. 

"Is  he  dead?"  asked  Freddie,  quietly,  as  she  went 


268  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

on  with  the  piece  of  needlework  on  which  she  was 
engaged. 

"  No,  he  aint  dead.     He's  done  got  off." 

Freda  raised  a  white  face,  and  stared  at  her  in- 
formant; but  Freddie  gave  her  arm  a  warning 
pressure. 

"  How  was  that  ?  "  she  asked,  in  a  tone  of  in- 
difference, as  if  she  did  not  care  much  whether  she 
got  an  answer  or  not,  "did  he  break  out  of  the  cala- 
boose? " 

"  Oh,  no.  He  was  bailed  out,  and  he's  gone  to 
his  friends." 

"  Indeed  !     Does  he  live  in  this  neighborhood  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  exactly  where  he  lives ;  they've 
took  him  to  widow  Benson's,  I'm  told." 

After  this  the  two  girls  maintained  a  profound 
silence,  which,  experience  had  taught  them,  was  the 
surest  means  of  getting  rid  of  their  tiresome  land- 
lady. Freddie  hastened  her  departure  by  the  simple 
ruse  of  pretending  to  listen  attentively  to  a  conver- 
sation that  was  going  on  among  the  black  people  in 
the  yard. 

Miss  Fanny  went  out  to  see  what  it  was,  and  the 
bolt  was  shot  behind  her. 

"  Is  not  this  terrible  ?  "  said  Freda,  "  your  enemy 
and  mine  are  probably  both  in  this  neighborhood, 
working  together  for  our  destruction.  What  can 
we  do  ?  Now  that  I  know  Captain  Grainger  is 
at  large,  I  feel  confident  it  was  he  who  sent  that 
letter." 

"We  shall  be  able  to  judge  better  of  that  when 


FRIENDLY    ADVICE.  26$ 

the  next  comes,"  replied  Freddie.  "  I  hope  it  will 
come  to-night,  and  that  we  shall  then  find,  beyond  a 
doubt,  that  our  brave  friend  has  not  forsaken  us. 
Even  though  Captain  Grainger  is  at  liberty,  we  can- 
not have  much  to  fear  from  him.  He  was  too 
badly  wounded  to  do  much  mischief  for  some  time 
to  come." 

"  Nevertheless,  I  shall  pack  up,  and  be  ready  to 
start  at  a  moment's  notice,"  said  Freda. 

^Freddie  agreed  to  do  the  same,  as  nothing  would 
be  lost  by  being  prepared.  She  was  finishing  her 
operations  by  the  last  glimmer  of  twilight,  when 
Freda  entered  her  room  hastily. 

"  O  Freddie,"  she  exclaimed,  "  I  fear  something 
dreadful  is  going  to  happen  !  What  can  be  done  ? 
A  man  is  at  my  window,  with  a  message  from  the 
wounded  Ku-Klux,  begging  Miss  Winifred  to  go  to 
him,  and  speak  to  him  before  he  dies.  Of  course, 
it  is  me  that  he  wants  to  see,  but  I  dare  not  go. 
And  yet  if  I  don't  go,  perhaps  he  will  come  here. 
What  can  I  do  ?  " 

"  Who  is  the  man  who  brought  the  message,  and 
why  did  he  come  to  the  window  ?  " 

"  He  is  a  man  whom  I  have  often  seen  at  church," 
said  Freda,  "  and  he  came  to  the  window  to  avoid 
Miss  Fanny.  What  shall  I  do  ?  " 

"  Keep  up  your  courage,  dear ;  that's  the  best 
thing  you  can  do.  Let  me  speak  to  this  man.  If 
there  seems  any  necessity  for  Miss  Winifred  to  go, 
remember  /  am  Miss  Winifred  here,  and  I  will 
go." 


270  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

"  No,  indeed,  you  shall  not !  I  will  not  let  you 
risk  your  life  for  me." 

"  If  Captain  Grainger  is  really  dying,  he  may 
have  something  to  tell  that  it  is  important  for 
you  to  know.  What  if  it  should  relate  to  that 
hidden  trouble  that  caused  your  Rupert  to  disap- 
pear so  strangely?  I  promise  to  be  cautious,  but 
if  the  man  is  dying,  I  must  and  will  go.  I  shall 
take  my  revolver." 

The  messenger  assured  her  that  he  had  seen  |he 
wounded  man  lying  in  his  bed ;  that  he  said  he  was 
dying,  and  that  he  looked  as  if  he  had  not  long  to 
live. 

Freddie  did  not  hesitate  for  a  moment.  She  put 
on  a  hat  with  a  large  and  thick  veil,  which  she  tied 
under  her  chin,  in  such  a  way  as  to  conceal  her 
features  as  much  as  possible  without  exactly  cover- 
ing her  face,  and  mounting  her  horse,  with  the  negro 
for  a  guide,  she  set  off  for  Mrs.  Benson's  house. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

/• 

KU-KLUX    LAW. 

THE  widow  was  one  of  the  class  of  "  poor  white 
trash "  to  which  Miss  Fanny  also  belonged,  and 
had  given  shelter  to  the  wounded  man  from  no 
motives  of  Christian  charity,  but  for  the  sake  of  the 
money  which  she  would  get  for  it.  This  Freddie 
learned  from  her  guide,  as  he  walked  by  her  side. 

The  man  being  on  foot,  she  was,  of  course,  obliged 
to  walk  her  horse  all  the  way,  and  it  was  quite  dark 
before  they  arrived.  Leaving  Sultan  in  the  care  of 
her  guide,  she  went  in.  Mrs.  Benson,  it  seemed, 
knew  her  by  sight,  for,  without  a  word,  she  led  her 
into  one  of  the  front  rooms,  saying,  "  Here's  Miss 
Winifred,  Captain." 

A  smoky  lamp  partially  illuminated  the  chamber, 
and  showed  its  miserable  and  squalid  furniture. 
Freddie  advanced  towards  the  dingy-looking  bed, 
beside  which  a  broken  chair  was  placed. 

"  Are  you  Winifred  ?  "  demanded  a  hollow  voice. 

"  That  is  my  name,"  she  replied,  "  why  have  you 
sent  for  me  ?  I  came,  because  your  messenger  said 
that  you  were  dying." 

"  Leave  the  room,  will  you,  Mrs.  Benson  ?  "  said 

271 


272  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

Captain  Grainger,  "  I  have  something  of  importance 
to  say  to  this  young  lady.  See  that  the  door  is 
shut,"  he  continued,  when  the  woman  was  gone, 
"and  then  come  back.  Winifred — do  you  know 
who  I  am  ?  " 

"  I  never  saw  you  before.  How  should  I  know 
you  ?" 

"  You  may  well  think  that  you  never  saw  me 
before,"  he  answered,  with  a  bitter  laugh,  "how 
should  you  recognize  in  this  scarred  and  mutilated 
visage  the  features  of  the  handsomest  man  that, 
perhaps,  ever  walked  this  earth  ?  " 

"  Were  you  ever  handsome  ?  "  said  she,  incredu- 
lously, "  surely  you  are  joking." 

"This  is  no  time  for  joking.  I  tell  you  I  was 
more  than  handsome — I  was  magnificently  beauti- 
ful. Can  you  not  remember  the  noblest-looking 
man  you  ever  saw  ?  " 

"I  certainly  do  not  remember  you,"  replied  Fred- 
die. "  Was  it  to  say  this  that  you  sent  for  me  ?  " 

"Not  altogether.  Do  you  recollect  your  father, 
Winifred?" 

"  I  have  no  very  distinct  recollection  of  him,"  she 
replied,  with  perfect  truth. 

"  Your  memory  is  not  a  very  good  one,  it  seems. 
/  am  your  father." 

"  You!"  repeated  Freddie,  starting  up,  "that  is 
impossible ! " 

"  You  recollect,  then,  what  I  was,"  he  said,  com- 
placently,— his  intense  personal  vanity  making  him 
attribute  her  astonishment  to  the  change  in  his 


KU-KLUX    LAW.  273 

appearance.  "  It  is  indeed  difficult  to  realize  that 
anything  so  perfect  as  my  face  once  was,  could  ever 
be  reduced  to  this  mass  of  deformity.  Curses  on 
the  hand  that  wrought  the  ruin !  But  I  will  soon 
convince  you.  Do  you  remember  the  night  when 
your  mother's  cottage  was  burnt  down  ?  " 

"  I  know  something  about  it,"  responded  Freddie, 
evasively. 

"  Your  mother  had  that  evening  given  to  me  a 
certain  casket  of  jewels,  which  I  was  taking  away 
to  sell  for  her,  when  I  was  attacked  by  a  man  who 
had  been  her  lover",  whom  she  had  discarded  for  me. 
He  shot  me  down  before  I  could  defend  myself.  I 
fell  with  my  face  on  my  own  pistol,  which  exploded, 
— and  this  is  the  result !  " 

He  paused,  as  if  expecting  her  to  make  some 
comment.  Had  she  given  utterance  to  her  thoughts 
she  would  have  said,  "  and  served  you  right !  "  but 
she  remained  silent,  and  he  went  on. 

"  He  robbed  me  of  the  jewels,  and  then  went 
back  and  set  the  house  on  fire.  Your  angel  mother, 
as  I  learned  long  afterwards,  when  my  terrible 
wounds  were  healed,  never  recovered  from  the  shock, 
and  your  life,  my  adored  child,  was  nearly  sacrificed. 
I  had — as  you  may  perhaps  remember — playfully 
locked  you  in  your  room,  little  suspecting  that  a 
fiend  in  human  form  would  fire  the  house.  How- 
ever, the  neighbors — brave  French  peasants — as- 
sembled and  rescued  you.  I  dare  not  think  of  that 
period  of  misery.  I  merely  allude  to  it  to  prove  to 
you  that  I  am  really  your  most  unfortunate  father. 
18 


274  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

The  robber  and  would-be  murderer  kept  possession 
of  your  jewels,  for  I  always  called  them  yours,  my 
child — my  Winifred's  Jewels ;  I  could  not  recover 
them  by  law,  for  I  had  no  witnesses.  But  I  haunted 
him,  and  worked  upon  him,  till  at  length  I  compelled 
him  to  restore  them  to  you.  And  I  had  my  revenge 
upon  him  at  last,  for  I  drove  him  to  suicide.  Ha!  ha! 
that  was  some  consolation.  Ah,  I  made  him  suffer, 
though  not  a  thousandth  part  of  what  he  merited  \'  I 
followed  you  from  England  to  this  country,  my  child, 
a  difficult  task,  which  nothing  but  a  father's  doting 
love  could  have  accomplished.  Here  I  fell  in  with 
the  body  of  brave  and  injured  men  who  are  bound 
by  the  most  solemn  vows  to  restore  their  beloved 
land  to  her  former  glory  and  prosperity.  This  can- 
not be  done  if  the  wretched  and  brutal  slaves  are 
taught  to  consider  themselves  equal  to  their  rightful 
owners.  The  Southern  gentlemen  cannot,  in  justice 
to  themselves,  permit  these  creatures  to  be  taught, 
and  therefore  they  resolved  to  frighten  away  the 
teachers  whom  the  bigoted  tyrants  of  the  North  had 
sent  here.  I  joined  the  band  who  attacked  the  house 
where  you  live,  with  the  sole  object  of  protecting 
you  from  violence.  Full  of  this  sacred  purpose,  I 
was  in  the  foremost  rank,  and  was  shot,  as  you 
know.  And  here  I  lie,  unable  to  escape,  though  I 
am  now  exposed  to  still  greater  danger.  I  have  se- 
cret enemies,  who  seek  my  life,  and  may  come  here 
at  any  time  and  assassinate  me  while  I  lie  helpless 
on  my  bed  of  suffering.  I  have  not  the  means  of 
making  my  escape,  and  therefore,  my  child,  my 


KU-KLUX    LAW.  275 

Winifred,  I  sent  for  you,  to  tell  you  all  and  throw 
myself  on  your  mercy.  Bring  me  that  case  of  jewels. 
I  will  dispose  of  them  for  you,  and  transmit  the  pro- 
ceeds to  you,  only  keeping  enough  to  pay  my  ex- 
penses back  to  Europe.  There  is  no  time  for  delay; 
bring  them  back  to-night,  or  it  may  be  too  late." 

"  Do  you  not,  then,  believe  that  you  are  dying, 
as  you  said  you  were  ? "  demanded  Freddie,  in  a 
solemn  tone. 

"  My  life  is  in  danger  with  every  moment's  delay," 
he  replied,  "  and  I  said  I  was  dying  to  bring  you 
here.  I  could  not  tell  that  slave  I  was  your  father." 

"  Why  have  you  never  before  made  yourself 
known  to  your  only  child  ?  "  she  asked  again,  in  the 
same  tone. 

"  I  could  not  bring  myself  to  let  you  see  the 
miserable  wreck  of  your  once  magnificently  hand- 
some father,"  he  replied ;  "  but  I  have  watched  over 
thee,  my  Winifred !  I  have  watched  over  thee,  like 
a  guardian  angel !  " 

He  put  out  his  hand  to  caress  her,  but  she  drew 
back  with  a  shudder. 

"  You  will  fetch  me  the  jewels,  my  darling,  will 
you  not  ?  "  he  said,  with  a  hypocritical  whine. 

Freddie  could  not  trust  herself  to  speak.  She 
was  burning  to  denounce  him  as  a  liar  and  mur- 
derer, but  prudence  kept  her  silent;  and,  ere  she 
could  frame  any  more  moderate  and  temporizing 
sentence,  their  conference  was  rudely  interrupted  by 
the  entrance  of  four  masked  figures. 

"  Quit  the  room,"  said  the  foremost  of  the  visitors 


276  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

to  Freddie,  whom  he  probably  mistook  for  a»  nurse, 
"  we  have  business  with  your  patient." 

Freddie  required  no  second  bidding.  She  has- 
tened out.  No  light  was  visible.  In  the  front  yard 
she  could  hear  (for  it  was  too  dark  to  see)  the  snort- 
ing and  panting  of  several  horses.  No  one  was 
stirring  within.  Mrs.  Benson  seemed  to  have  aban- 
doned the  place  to  the  masked  visitors. 

Freddie  groped  along  by  the  wall,  and  came  to  a 
door  which  stood  partly  open.  She  pushed  it  and 
went  in.  The  sound  of  voices  warned  her  that  she 
was  in  a  room  adjoining  that  in  which  Captain 
Grainger  lay,  and  separated  from  it  only  by  a  thin 
wooden  partition.  Cautiously  she  drew  near  and 
listened. 

"  You  must  decide  upon  our  offer  at  once,"  said 
the  stern  voice  of  the  man  who  had  ordered  her  out 
of  the  room ;  "  there  is  a  carriage  at  the  door,  which 
will  convey  you  safely,  and  with  as  little  suffering 
as  circumstances  will  permit,  to  North  Carolina." 

"  For  God's  sake,  gentlemen,"  replied  Captain 
Grainger,  "  consider  my  condition !  It  would  kill 
me  to  be  removed  for  a  day  or  two  at  least." 

"  We  can  consider  nothing  but  our  own  safety. 
You  must  be  out  of  this  State  before  to-morrow 
night." 

"  Give  me  only  one  day;  give  me  only  till  to-mor- 
row morning !  "  pleaded  the  wounded  man. 

"  We  cannot  give  you  an  hour.  Agree  to  go  at 
once,  or  take  the  consequences." 

"  What  consequences  ?  What  do  you  mean  ?  You 


KU-KLUX    LAW.  277 

are  all  my  good  friends ;  you  would  not  harm  me,  I 
am  sure." 

"  Have  you  so  soon  forgotten  your  oath  ?  " 

"  No,  no ;  I  have  been  true  to  you  all.  I  have 
kept  the  oath." 

"  Liar,"  said  the  masked  leader,  with  suppressed 
fury,  "you  have  promised  to  betray  us,  if  your  own 
miserable  life  is  spared !  " 

"  Upon  my  honor — upon  my  soul — gentlemen — " 

"  Have  you  forgotten  that  the  penalty  for  breaking 
the  oath  is  death — death — DEATH  ?  " 

"  Gentlemen,  think  what  you  are  doing,"  shrieked 
the  wretched  man.  "  For  God's  sake  !  For  mercy's 
sake,  don't  murder  me  !  " 

In  the  midst  of  these  entreaties,  the  stern  voice 
said,  "  Gentlemen,  are  you  prepared  ?  One, — two, — 
three ! " 

At  the  last  word,  the  report  of  several  pistols  was 
heard.  There  was  a  deep  groan,  the  sound  of  re- 
treating footsteps,  horses'  hoofs  and  the  wheels  of  a 
carriage  rattling  for  a  moment  along  the  road,  and 
then  a  dead  stillness. 

Horror-stricken  and  heart-sick,  Freddie  staggered 
out.  She  must  see  with  her  own  eyes  that  Freda's 
persecutor  was  really  dead ;  she  must,  if  possible, 
take  possession  of  his  papers,  which  might  be  of  im- 
portance to  her  friend. 

The  smoky  lamp  was  still  burning.  The  ghastly 
corpse  was  already  stiffening. 

A  pocket-book  lay  beside  the  pillow,  containing 
money  and  papers.  She  pushed  the  money  beneath 


278  WINIFRED'S  '  JE  WELS. 

the  pillow,  and  put  the  book  into  her  pocket.  Out, 
then,  through  the  silent  house,  which  seemed  to  be 
abandoned  by  every  living  thing. 

Where  was  the  man  who  had  charge  of  Sultan  ? 
She  tried  to  call  him,  but  her  voice  failed  her.  She 
looked  out  into  the  yard.  Not  a  glimmer  of  light 
was  visible  from  the  cabins  of  the  negroes.  Doubt- 
less they  were  all  hiding  from  the  dreaded  Ku-Klux, 
as  a  brood  of  chickens  hide  from  a  hawk.  The 
stillness  was  so  death-like  that  her  own  footsteps  al- 
most frightened  her. 

They  were  heard  by  other  ears,  however,  which 
they  did  not  frighten.  A  gentle  whinny  told  her 
that  Sultan  was  in  the  yard,  and  the  noble  creature 
walked  up  to  her.  The  man  had  run  away  and  hid- 
den himself,  without  stopping  even  to  secure  the 
horse. 

Full  of  gratitude  to  the  sagacious  creature  who 
had  been  so  true  to  her,  she  mounted,  and  gave  him 
the  rein,  whispering,  "  Now,  my  Sultan,  take  me 
home,  for  I  know  nothing  of  the  way." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE    INDIAN    BOW. 

THE  gallant  horse  bore  his  young  mistress  safely 
home. 

In  strange  contrast  to  the  silent  abode  of  death 
which  she  had  so  recently  quitted,  the  cabins  and 
yard  at  Miss  Fanny's  were  alive  with  bright  lights 
and  busy  people.  A  marriage  had  taken  place  in 
the  little  community  that  evening,  and  a  "big  sup- 
per "  had  been  got  up,  in  honor  of  the  event. 

Miss  Fanny  would  have  refused,  as  an  insult,  an 
invitation  to  the  table  of  a  "  nigger," — but  she  was 
so  anxiously  looking  out  for  a  plateful  of  turkey  and 
other  good  things  which  she  expected  would  be 
sent  to  her  from  their  table,  that  Freddie,  after  con- 
fiding Sultan  to  the  boy  who  acted  as  ostler,  passed 
her  without  question  or  interruption,  on  her  way  to 
Freda's  room. 

"  I  have  been  so  uneasy  about  you,  dear !  "  cried 
the  latter,  starting  up  to  welcome  her.  "  What  has 
detained  you  so  long  ?  And  what  has  happened  ? 
Something  dreadful,  I  fear,  to  make  you  look  so 
pale !  What  about  that  man — that  Captain  Grain- 
ger ?  What  did  he  want  ?  " 

279 


280  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  He  is  dead,  Freda,"  replied  Freddie,  "  don't  ask 
me  any  questions  about  it,  please.  It  was  very- 
shocking,  and  I  cannot  bear  to  think  of  it.  Some 
other  time  I  will  tell  you.  Has  anything  happened 
while  I  was  away  ?  " 

"  Here  is  another  letter  from  our  friend.  That 
honest  fellow,  Dan  Fletcher,  brought  it,  and  is  wait- 
ing for  an  answer.  He  says  the  gentleman  who 
wrote  it  has  been  living  for  nearly  two  weeks  at 
Sam  Watson's,  nursing  him  like  a  brother.  Sam 
broke  his  leg  in  escaping  from  a  party  of  Ku-Klux 
ruffians,  and  this  gentleman  set  it.  -  He  says  Sam 
Watson  knew  him  years  ago." 

"  He  is  the  man  I  supposed,  then,  and  we  may 
trust  him  implicitly,  I  am  sure  of  that.  What  does 
he  say  ?  " 

She  took  the  letter  and  read : 

"  The  bearer  of  this  is  known  to  you  as  an  honest 
and  trustworthy  man.  He  will  give  you  Sam  Wat- 
son's assurance  that  all  is  on  the  square.  Dan  will 
take  your  horses  secretly  to  Watson's,  where  they 
can  remain  in  safety  till  sent  for.  He  will  also  take 
your  baggage  to  the  depot  in  the  morning.  Wait 
for  nothing.  Money  is  provided." 

"  What  shall  we  do  ?  "  asked  Freda. 

"  Go — go — by  all  means.  I  wish  we  could  set  off 
to-night  instead  of  waiting  till  morning,  for  I  so 
dread  being  called  as  a  witness  at  the  inquest  on 
that  man.  Let  us  send  off  the  horses  at  once.  It 
will  be  such  a  comfort  to  know  that  the  dear  crea- 
tures are  safe.  I  love  my  Sultan  better  than  ever 


AN    INDIAN    BOW.  281 

after  this  night.  He  brought  me  home  in  the  dark, 
when  I  could  not  have  found  the  road." 

They  bade  an  affectionate  farewell  to  their  dumb 
friends,  and  wished  Dan  to  take  some  money  to 
Watson,  to  pay  for  their  keep ;  but  they  could  not 
induce  him  to  receive  a  cent.  He  assured  them 
repeatedly  that  it  was  all  "  done  settled,  and  done 
paid  for"  already. 

"  We  must  be  patient,  I  suppose,  till  we  get  to 
California,"  said  Freda,  "  and  then,  I  hope,  every- 
thing will  be  explained." 

The  stable  stood  apart  from  ?.ll  the  other  build- 
ings, and  thus  the  horses  were  saddled  and  led 
away  without  attracting  the  attention  of  the  good 
folks  who  were  intent  upon  the  supper,  and  the 
dance  that  was  to  follow  it. 

Freda  was  so  tired  with  the  last  night's  vigil  that 
she  went  to  bed,  declaring  that  the  noise  would  not 
disturb  her  slumbers;  especially  as  the  number  of 
men  assembled  at  the  wedding  would  assure  them 
against  another  midnight  attack  of  the  "  Chivalry." 

Freddie  left  her  to  her  repose,  but  her  own  mind 
v,:as  too  much  agitated  to  allow  her  even  to  seek  her 
pillow.  The  cold-blooded  murder  of  the  wounded 
and  helpless  wretch,  which  she  had  all  but  witnessed, 
thrilled  her  with  horror.  The  death  of  twenty,  or 
any  number  of  men,  slain  in  fair  fight,  would  not 
have  produced  such  a  painful  effect  upon  her.  He 
was  an  unmitigated  scoundrel,  no  doubt,  and  he  had 
just  before  been  telling  her  any  number  of  lies;  his 
life  was  worthless,  and  Freda's  was  more  secure  now 


282  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

that  he  was  gone ;  but  to  be  shot  like  a  dog,  while 
he  lay  helpless  in  his  bed,  and  by  those  who  had 
but  yesterday  been  his  friends  and  familiar  com- 
panions— jt  was  too  revolting.  Then  there  was  the 
question — could  it  be  possible  that  he  was  Freda's 
father?  Much  that  he  had  said  was,  she  knew, 
untrue,  and  this  relationship  might  only  have  been 
assumed  in  order  to  grasp  her  jewels  by  working  on 
her  filial  duty.  Ought  she  to  tell  Freda  what  had 
passed  ?  It  was  her  right  to  know  it  all,  and  she 
was  old  enough  to  judge  for  herself.  Still  it  would 
be  merciful  to  withhold  such  knowledge ;  but  would 
she  be  justified  in  doing  so?  These  confused 
thoughts  racked  her  brain ;  but  she  could  arrive  at 
no  conclusion  except  that  she  would  wait  till  they 
arrived  in  California,  where  possibly  something 
might  take  place  that  would  throw  a  new  light 
upon  everything,  and  make  the  path  -of  duty  plain 
before  her. 

She  extinguished  her  lamp,  and  opening  a  window 
sat  down  before  it,  trying  to  cool  her  heated  brow  in 
the  sharp  frosty  air. 

This  window  was  situated  in  the  gable  end  of  the 
house,  and  looked  towards  the  stable,  consequently 
in  a  direction  at  right  angles  with  the  noisy  yard. 

As  she  sat,  gazing  out  into  the  obscurity  of  the 
starless  and  moonless  night,  a  sound  fell  upon  her 
ears,  unheeded  at  first;  but  which  gradually  aroused, 
and  finally  riveted  her  attention.  It  came  from  the 
direction  of  the  stable,  and  at  first  seemed  to  be  an 
echo  of  the  noise  made  by  the  dancers,  for  it  kept 


AN    INDIAN    BOW.  283 

time,  stroke  for  stroke,  to  the  thumping  of  their  feet. 
But  it  was  a  different  kind  of  sound,  more  like  a 
hammer  striking  on  something  of  a  yielding  nature, 
like  a  wooden  peg.  She  watched  and  listened; 
curious,  but  not  uneasy,  for  the  horses  were  not  there. 

Suddenly  a  gleam  of  light  fell  on  the  stable  door, 
and  revealed  a  man  in  the  act  of  setting  fire  to  a 
heap  of  litter.  The  first  attempt  failed,  and  another 
match  was  struck.  As  the  man  stooped  to  blow  the 
smouldering  rubbish  into  a  flame,  Freddie  had  a 
good  view  of  his  face.  It  was  one  that  she  knew 
well  by  sight,  and  the  recognition  revealed  to  her, 
like  a  flash  of  lightning,  the  object  of  his  present 
manoeuvres.  It  was  that  of  Harding — the  chivalrous 
gentleman  who  had  sent  her,  as  he  thought,  an 
incurably  vicious  horse,  in  the  hope  that  it  would 
kill  her;  and  who  now,  finding  that  design  frustrated, 
was,  in  the  utter  malignity  of  his  heart,  attempting 
to  burn  the  horse  in  his  stable. 

Freddie,  at  that  moment,  knew  what  it  was  to 
feel  blood-thirsty. 

Her  hand  was  on  her  revolver  -r  but  she  withdrew 
it,  as  another  idea  crossed  her  mind.  Quick  as 
thought  she  tumbled  the  contents  of  her  large  trunk 
upon  the  floor,  raised  the  false  bottom,  and  seized 
her  bow  and  arrows. 

A  sense  of  conscious  power  thrilled  her  nerves  as, 
with  the  same  ease  as  of  old,  she  strung  the  mighty 
weapon — a  feat  which  many  a  strong  man  had 
attempted  in  vain  to  achieve. 

"  If  my  eye  and  hand  are  still  true,"  she  said, 


284  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

fitting  an  arrow  to  the  string ;  "  and  if  my  arrow  is 
not  warped,  I'll  give  him  a  stinger,  and  he  shall  not 
know  where  it  comes  from." 

The  fire  was  now  thoroughly  kindled.  The  brute 
had  pushed  the  burning  straw  and  pine  chips  under 
the  broken  door,  and  the  interior  of  the  stable  was 
lighted  up.  She  saw  him  apply  his  eye  to  a  crevice, 
as  if  to  gloat  over  his  victim's  agony. 

At  that  moment  the  arrow  sped,  true  to  its  mark. 

A  yell  of  pain  followed,  and  she  saw  the  wretch 
writhing  and  twisting,  yet  not  running  away,  though 
the  flames  had  swept  out  beneath  the  door,  and 
were  lapping  like  waves  around  his  feet  and  legs. 

His  shoulder  was  pinned  to  the  door !  The  pain 
of  the  burning,  however,  gave  him  strength.  By  a 
powerful  effort  he  broke  away,  beat  out  the  flames 
from  his  clothes,  and  scrambled  over  the  fence.  His 
horse's  feet,  at  full  gallop  along  the  hard  road,  soon 
told  that  he  was  beating  a  hasty  retreat. 

"  That's  what  may  be  called  a  very  neat  little  bit 
of  business,"  said  Freddie,  putting  away  her  Indian 
weapons.  "  I  wonder  whether  he  had  time  to  see 
that  the  stable  was  empty!  I  hope  he  had.  It 
would  be  such  a  pleasant  subject  for  reflection." 

Before  the  fire  was  discovered,  the  stable  was 
totally  demolished.  Miss  Fanny  bitterly  bewailed 
the  loss  of  her  property.  Freddie  and  Freda  pre- 
tended the  deepest  concern  at  the  destruction  of 
their  horses,  a  report  which  they  allowed  to  pass 
uncontradicted,  seeing  how  much  the  belief  in  it 
would  add  to  the  security  of  the  animals. 


AN    INDIAN    BOW.  285 

Even  the  merciful  Freda  could  not  but  be  glad  of 
the  ruffian's  punishment,  when  an  inspection  of  the 
ruin  showed,  the  pains  he  had  taken  to  accomplish 
his  diabolical  purpose. 

One  of  the  door  posts  and  a  portion  of  the  door 
had  fallen  outwards,  and  thus  escaped  complete 
destruction.  The  door  was  firmly  nailed  to  the 
post,  and  beneath  it  lay  a  hammer  and  a  piece  of 
thick  leather,  much  indented  by  nail  heads,  which 
had  probably  been  used  to  deaden  the  noise  made 
by  hammering  in  the  nails. 

Freddie  chuckled  as  she  pointed  out  the  head  of 
the  arrow  still  stictyng  in  the  door,  held  there  by 
the  barb. 

"  That  arrow  was  shot  with  a  good  will,  and  by  a 
strong  arm,  whoever  did  it,"  she  remarked,  as  they 
walked  away. 

"  If  it  were  not  for  your  sake,  dear  Freddie,"  said 
Freda,  "  I  could  wish  you  had  sent  another  after  it. 
He  richly  deserved  it — the  monster!" 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

A   JOURNEY. 

"  So  you're  going  away,  are  you  ? "  was  Miss 
Fanny's  greeting. 

"  Yes,  Miss  Fanny,"  replied  Freda,  "  we  don't  like 
being  shot."  f 

"Well — I  reckon  there  wasn't  much  danger  of 
you  being  shot.  Nobody  would  think  it  worth  while 
to  shoot  you.  You  needn't  have  been  so  frightened 
of  a  parcel  of  young  fellows  that  were  out  on  a 
spree." 

"  It's  a  kind  of  spree  that  has  not  much  fun  in  it," 
said  Freddie. 

"  It  wasn't  much  fun  for  the  poor  chap  that  got 
killed,  any  way,"  said  Miss  Fanny. 

"  Have  you  heard  that  he  is  dead  ?  "  asked  Fred- 
die, dreading  that  the  next  thing  mentioned  would 
be  the  inquest. 

"  Yes — he's  done  died,  and  done  buried,"  answered 
Miss  Fanny,  carelessly. 

"Buried!"  repeated  Freddie,  amazement  at  such  in- 
decent haste  overcoming  the  sense  of  relief  which 
the  information  afforded;  "  buried  SQ  soon,  and  with- 
out an  inquest! " 
286 


A    JOURNEY.  287 

"  What's  the  good  of  bobbering  about  an  inquest? 
They  knew  what  the  man  died  of.  And  nobody 
was  acquainted  with  him,  either.  Seems  he  was  a 
stranger." 

"  So  they  buried  him  in  the  potter's  field,"  said 
Freddie,  half  mournfully,  as  she  reflected  that  this 
obscure  burial  might  have  been  given  to  her  dear 
Freda's  father. 

"  No,  they  put  him  in  the  white  folk's  symmetry," 
replied  Miss  Fanny;  and  the  impulsive  Freddie  ran 
out  to  hide  a  laugh  at  this  complacent  piece  of  ig- 
norance. 

Dan  Fletcher  now  appeared  with  a  wagon,  bor- 
rowed from  Mr.  Roy,  whose  repentance  had  stood 
the  test  of  time.  Dan  was  a  tenant  of  Mr.  Harding's. 

"  Seems  there's  Injins  round  some  whar,"  he  said, 
as  he  carried  out  the  trunks ;  "  Mas'r  Harding  was 
riding  home  from  his  brover's  last  night,  and  was 
shot  right  through  his  shoulder  with  an  Injun 
arrow." 

"Where  does  his  brother  live,  Dan?"  asked 
Freddie. 

"  Out  yander,  dat  away,  Miss  Winifred,"  replied 
Dan,  indicating  an  extent  of  about  ten  miles  of  hori- 
zon by  a  comprehensive  sweep  of  his  hand. 

"That's  a  wide  place  to  live  in,  Dan,"  she  said; 
"  but  Master  Harding  was  not  there  when  he  was 
shot.  He  told  a  falsehood  about  that."  Dan's  eyes 
opened  wide.  "  He  was  setting  fire  to  Miss  Fanny's 
stable,  and  I  was  the  Indian  who  shot  him." 

"  You,  Miss  Winifred ! "  cried  Dan,  bursting  into 


288  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

a  grin  of  intense  admiration ;  "  and  you  seen  him 
setting  fire  to  the  stable  ?  " 

"  I  saw  him ;  and,  as  I  had  an  Indian  bow  and 
arrow,  I  shot  him." 

"  Now,  dat's  curus,"  said  Dan ;  "  he  jest  wanted  to 
kill  dat  hos.  When  he  seen  you  riding  past  dat 
time  wif  de  hos  jest  as  quiet  as  a  child,  I  tell  you  he 
was  mad !  He  swore,  and  took  de  name  of  de 
blessed  Lord  in  vain,  till  he  done  freezed  my  blood. 
But  to  come  and  try  to  burn  de  poor  dumb  beast 
was  de  meanest  thing  ever  I  heard  of." 

"  Everybody  about  here  supposes  the  horses  were 
burnt  to  ashes,"  said  Freddie,  "and  you  must  take 
care  not  to  let  them  know  any  better.  When  they 
are  safe  away,  you  may  tell  the  tale  and  have  a  good 
laugh  over  it." 

"  You  may  trust  me,  Miss  Winifred ;  7  wont  tell 
nobody." 

The  young  ladies  timed  their  arrival  at  the  depot, 
so  that  they  were  not  compelled  to  wait  long  under 
the  insulting  gaze  of  the  white  men  who  were  loung- 
ing about  as  usual. 

Freddie  looked  eagerly  round  through  her  thick 
veil,  hoping  to  see  the  tall  form  of  the  friend  who 
had  promised  to  guard  them  on  their  journey;  but 
he  was  nowhere  visible. 

The  cars  moved  off,  and  she  sank  back  in  her 
seat,  silent  and  downcast. 

A  few  miles  further,  as  they  were  slowly  ascend- 
ing a  steep  gradient,  Freddie  suddenly  clutched 
Freda's  hand,  exclaiming,  "  There  he  is  ! '" ' 


A     JOURNEY.  289 

Freda  also  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  tall  man, 
standing  by  the  track.  She  put  her  head  out  of  the 
window  in  a  moment.  "  He  is  on  the  cars,"  she 
said,  as  she  withdrew  it,  "  I  saw  him  run  by  the  side 
a  few  steps,  and  put  his  gun  on  the  platform,  and 
then  he  jumped  on.  I  feel  so  safe  now." 

"  So  do  I,"  said  Freddie,  and  lapsed  again  into 
silence ;  but  her  heart  was  no  longer  downcast. 

It  was  in  vain  that  they  looked  for  their  protector 
to  enter  the  car  where  they  were.  He  remained  in- 
visible; and  Freddie  questioned  her  companion 
closely,  several  times,  as  to  whether  she  was  quite 
sure  she  had  seen  him  spring  upon  the  platform. 
Sympathetic  Freda  bore  with  angelic  patience  these 
repeated  doubts  of  the  reliability  of  her  eyes.  And 
still  their  evidence  remained  unconfirmed. 

It  was  not  till  they  reached  Columbia  that  their 
minds  were  set  at  rest. 

"  Ladies,"  said  the  conductor,  "a  train  goes  your 
way  in  twenty  minutes.  You've  just  got  time  to 
reach  the  other  depot.  Come  this  way,  and  I'll  put 
you  into  a  carriage." 

"  Our  baggage ! "  suggested  Freda,  as  she  followed 
him. 

"All  right,  madam.  That  is  seen  to.  You'll 
have  your  checks  on  the  other  train." 

Freddie  had  given  no  thought  to  the  baggage. 
She  was  looking  in  all  directions  for  their  protector; 
but  with  no  better  success  than  before. 

The  second  train  had  not  long  started  when  the 
conductor  entered  the  car,  and  after  carefully  eying 
'9 


290  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

the  passengers,  approached  our  two  heroines,  and 
respectfully  inquired  if  one  of  them  was  named 
Trevanian.  Both  eagerly  answered  "  yes," — where- 
upon he  presented  them  with  checks  for  their  bag- 
gage, and  tickets  for  some  place  of  which  they  had 
never  heard. 

"  You  will  have  to  travel  all  night,  ladies,"  he 
added,  "  and  all  day  to-morrow ;  and  then  you  can 
have  a  night's  rest." 

Having  said  this  he  passed  on,  "  staying  no  farther 
question." 

This  was  a  fair  sample  of  the  way  in  which  their 
long  and  fatiguing  journey  was  accomplished. 
Whenever  it  was  practicable  they  rested  for  the 
night ;  every  care  was  taken  off  their  hands  ;  every 
want  or  wish  was,  as  far  as  possible,  forestalled. 
Yet  they  felt  that  their  position  was  a  very  anoma- 
lous one,  and  desired  to  come  to  an  explanation 
with  their  unknown  protector.  It  was  in  vain,  how- 
ever, that  they  endeavored  to  obtain  an  interview 
with  him,  by  every  means  short  of  taking  the  con- 
ductors into  their  counsels. 

When  they  started  on  this  journey,  acting  on  the 
advice,  and  tacitly  accepting  the  guardianship  of  the 
unknown,  they  did  so  under  the  pressure  of  immi- 
nent danger,  but  certainly  not  with  the  intention  of 
proceeding  to  the  far  West  without  coming  to  an 
explicit  understanding  of  his  motives  for  urging 
them  to  go  there.  Yet  here  they  were,  completely 
carried  away  by  the  tide  of  circumstances,  unable 
even  to  remonstrate  without  compromising  their 


A     JOURNEY.  291 

own  dignity,  and  in  a  manner  compelled  to  go  on 
under  the  direction  of  their  singular  guide,  as  that 
seemed  the  only  way  they  would  have  of  repaying 
him  the  cost  of  their  journey. 

San  Francisco !  The  journey  was  at  an  end.  It 
was  night  when  they  arrived.  For  an  instant,  Fred- 
die felt  a  feeling  of  alarm.  Why  should  two  young 
girls  be  brought  thus  mysteriously  into  the  midst 
of  this  wicked  and  dissolute  city  ?  Then  in  imagi- 
nation she  felt  a  hand  upon  her  head,  and  a  mur- 
mured benediction  fell  upon  her  ears,  and  she  blushed 
at  her  own  evil  thought. 

A  carriage  took  them  to  a  quiet  hotel.  Here  they 
were  received  with  the  utmost  respect.  Every  com- 
fort was  ready  for  them,  and  when  she  bade  them 
good-night,  the  chamber-maid  recommended  them 
to  take  a  long  night's  sleep,  as  the  carriage  was  not 
ordered  for  them  till  ten  o'clock. 

"  Shall  we  refuse  to  go  in  that  carriage  till  we 
know  where  we  are  going  ?  "  asked  Freddie. 

"  It  is  too  late  to  begin  a  rebellion  now,"  an- 
swered Freda,  "  we  shall  surely  have  this  strange 
business  cleared  up  to-morrow.  We  should  only 
cause  delay  by  refusing  to  go  on." 

"  That's  logical !  "  laughed  Freddie. 

"  Then  don't  talk  to  me.  How  can  I  be  logical 
when  I  am  so  sleepy  ? "  murmured  Freda,  as  her 
eye-lids  closed  over  her  weary  eyes. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

DISCOVERIES. 

IN  the  early  dawn,  Gilbert  Bracebridge  rode  away 
from  the  hotel,  while  the  two  girls,  unconscious  of 
the  error  under  which  he  labored,  and  which  a  single 
word  might  have  rectified,  were  still  enjoying  their 
much-needed  repose. 

He  rode  slowly  and  sadly.  His  task  was  well 
nigh  accomplished.  A  few  words  of  explanation 
with  Rupert  Forester,  and  all  would  be  over.  No 
harm  could  come  to  the  girls  during  their  drive  from 
San  Francisco ;  he  would  be  gone  before  their  arri- 
val, and  so  escape  the  shame  of  breathing  the  same 
air  with  her  whom  he  still  so  wildly  loved.  . 

Yes, — there  was  no  disguising  the  fact  from  him- 
self,— he  loved  her  still.  The  struggle  to  subdue 
this  feeling  was  well-nigh  killing  him.  During  the 
whole  of  that  terrible  journey  he  had  carried  on  a 
mental  warfare  which  only  his  iron  frame  could  have 
supported  without  sinking  under  the  load.  In  his 
waking  hours  he  could  command  his  ideas,  and  com- 
pelled himself  to  think,  calmly,  of  an  abstract  being 
who  was  his  sister's  child,  and  whom  it  was  his  duty 
to  convoy  to  a  place  of  safety — to  a  husband  who 
292 


DISCOVERIES.  293 

was  worthy  of  her.  This  abstraction,  it  is  true,  never 
presented  herself  to  his  mental  vision  under  the  form 
of  Freddie.  Had  she  done  so,  he  could  hardly  have 
viewed  her  so  coolly. 

Such  was  the  tenor  of  his  waking  thoughts ;  but 
no  sooner  did  sleep  close  his  eyelids,  though  but  for 
a  moment,  than  Freddie  was  his  niece  no  longer. 
She  was  the  girl  he  loved,  and  imagination  ran  riot 
in  inventing  the  wildest  adventures  in  which  they 
were  both  engaged ;  he  always  protecting  her  from 
danger,  and  meeting  his  reward  in  a  look  of  grati- 
tude. Then  he  would  gaze  into  her  clear  eyes,  and 
see  the  tears  well  up  from  their  grey  depths,  and 
the  light  of  a  dawning  love  shining  through  the  haze, 
and  with  a  shudder  he  would  wake,  and  face  the 
stern  reality. 

To  escape  what  he  considered  the  criminality  of 
these  dreams,  he  tried  to  abstain  from  sleeping.  But, 
in  spite  of  all,  sleep  sometimes  seized  him,  and  was 
revenged. 

The  result  of  this  continued  struggle  was,  that  he 
was  a  very  worn  and  wearied  man  when  he  alighted 
at  the  house  where  he  had  left  Rupert. 

To  his  great  chagrin,  the  latter  was  from  home. 
He  had  gone  out  shooting  directly  after  breakfast, 
the  mistress  of  the  house  informed  him,  but  she 
guessed  he  would  return  before  long,  for  he  never 
stayed  out  many  hours  at  a  time.  He  was  always 
looking  for  his  friend's  return. 

In  ordering  the  carriage  for  ten  o'clock,  Gilbert 
had  allowed  a  wide  margin  for  contingencies.  He 


294  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

was  four  good  hours  in  advance  of  his  niece  and  her 
companion,  and  could  afford  to  wait. 

He  strolled  out  into  the  garden.  The  air  was  soft 
and  balmy,  and  many  early  flowers  were  shedding 
their  fragrance  around.  He  lay  down  on  a  rustic  seat, 
and  listened  to  the  songs  of  the  birds  and  the  hum- 
ming of  the  bees.  His  pulses  were  tranquil,  but  it 
was  from  the  lassitude  of  exhaustion.  His  mind  was 
calm,  but  it  was  the  calmness  of  despair. 

He  had  not  lain  on  the  bench  two  minutes  before 
he  was  in  a  deep  and  dreamless  sleep. 

Meanwhile  Fate,  in  the  form  of  a  boy,  was  prepar- 
ing a  little  contre-temps  for  him. 

The  youth  who  had  been  appointed  to  drive  the 
carriage  for  Freda  and  Freddie  was  very  anxious  to 
be  off  before  an  older  and  steadier  driver,  who  was  ab- 
sent on  a'journey,  should  return  and  deprive  him  of 
the  job.  Therefore,  when  he  saw  the  young  ladies 
walking  about,  soon  after  eight  o'clock  he  approached 
them  with  a  well-assumed  air  of  rustic  stupidity,  and 
asked  whether  it  was  nine  o'clock  or  ten  that  the 
vehicle  was  to  be  ready. 

"  We  are  ready  now,"  said  Freda,  "  let  us  go  at 
once.  It  will  be  pleasanter  than  waiting  here." 

Freddie  agreed,  and  the  boy,  as  may  be  supposed, 
lost  no  time  in  getting  the  carriage  ready. 

Thus  it  happened  that  just  as  Rupert  had  re- 
ceived the  welcome  intelligence  of  Gilbert's  arrival, 
and  was  about  to  seek  him  in  the  garden,  a  carriage 
drew  up,  and  two  ladies  sprang  out  and  advanced 
towards  him  with  outstretched  hands. 


DISCO  VERIES.  295 

"  This,  then,  is  the  surprise  that  was  prepared  for 
us!"  cried  Freddie,  for  Freda  was  too  much  agitated 
to  speak,  and  Rupert,  too,  could  only  clasp  their 
hands  in  silence.  "And  where,"  she  continued,  glan- 
cing round,  "  where  is  the  gentleman  who  brought 
us  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Gilbert,  where  is  he  ? "  said  Rupert  For- 
ester, like  one  just  awaking  from  a  trance,. and  glad 
to  seize  hold  of  a  tangible  idea;  "he  must  explain  all 
this.  I  am  bewildered.  Let  me  retain  your  hands, 
dear  ladies,  or  I  shall  expect  to  see  you  vanish  as 
suddenly  as  you  appeared." 

"Did  you  not  know  that  we  were  coming?" 
asked  Freddie. 

"  No,  nor  dared  to  hope  it  in  my  wildest  dreams," 
he  replied  ;  "  but  where  is  Gilbert  Bracebridge  ?  He 
alone  can  throw  a  light  on  this  delightful  mystery." 

The  name  of  Bracebridge  suggested  another  idea. 

"  O  Freda!"  he  exclaimed,  stopping  short  as  they 
were  entering  the  garden,  "  were  you  not  delighted 
to  find  your  uncle  ?  " 

"  My  uncle  !  "  repeated  Freda,  as  much  mystified 
as  himself,  "  what  do  you  mean  ?  I  have  no  uncle 
that  I  know  of." 

"  Yes — Gilbert  Bracebridge — your  mother's  bro- 
ther. Did  he  not  tell  you  ?  " 

"I  know  no  one  of  that  name,"  said  poor  Freda, 
ready  to  cry  with  mingled  grief  and  fear,  for  she 
supposed  her  beloved  Rupert  must  be  insane. 

"  Then,  in  the  name  of  wonder,"  he  said,  dropping 
their  hands,  "  how  did  you  come  here  ?  Who  pre- 


296  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

pared  f<fr  you  the  surprise  you  spoke  of?  Who 
brought  you  here,  if  it  was  not  Gilbert  Brace- 
bridge?" 

"  We  were  brought  here,"  said  Freddie,  whose 
heart  was  now  beating  so  wildly  that  she  could 
scarcely  command  her  voice,  "  by  a  mysterious 
being  whose  name  we  never  heard,  who  concealed 
himself  from  us  during  the  journey,  and  who,  unless 
I  am  much  mistaken,  lies  sleeping  yonder !  " 

Rupert  took  their  hands  again,  and  they  crossed 
the  lawn  together  to  the  bench  where  Gilbert  lay. 

"  Yes,"  said  Rupert,  "  that  is  Gilbert  Bracebridge  ; 
and  he,  dear  Freda,  is  your  uncle,  your  mother's 
only  brother." 

"  My  uncle ! "  she  repeated,  in  accents  of  dove- 
like  tenderness.  "  I  remember,  now,  having  heard 
my  mother  speak  of  him.  And  it  was  my  own  uncle 
who  saved  us  from  those  dreadful  men !  " 

Freddie  was  wonderfully  sobered  down  all  at  once. 
She  had  "  laid  the  flattering  unction  to  her  soul " 
that  all  that  Gilbert  had  done  was  for  her  sake.  But 
it  now  occurred  to  her  that  she  had  been  an  egotistic 
fool.  It  was  his  niece,  concerning  whose  safety  he 
was  so  solicitous,  and  she  was  but  thrown  in  as  a 
make-weight  Still  there  was  some  consolation  in 
the  fact  that  Freda  was  his  niece. 

Freda's  last  words  elicited  a  question  from  Rupert 
respecting  the  danger  from  which  Gilbert  had  de- 
livered them  ;  which  Freddie's  recovered  self-posses- 
sion enabled  her  to  answer  by  a  succinct  narration 
of  all  that  had  occurred  since  the  visit  that  Rupert 


DISCO  VERIES.  297 

had  paid  to  Mrs.  Templeman's  for  the  purpose  of 
leaving  Winifred's  jewels  in  her  hands. 

But  the  more  all  this  was  explained,  the  less  could 
any  of  them  comprehend  the  motives  of  Gilbert's 
behavior. 

They  talked  without  restraint  as  they  stood 
around  the  sleeper,  for  they  wished  him  to  awake, 
yet  would  not  actually  rouse  him.  They  com- 
mented on  his  worn  appearance ;  and  Freda  admired 
his  manly  style  of  beauty,  and  growing  familiar 
with  him  as  she  realized  their  relationship,  gradually 
drew  nearer  to  him. 

Like  the  hum  of  the  bees  which  had  lulled  him 
as  he  fell  asleep,  the  sound  of  their  voices  came  in 
a  confused  murmur  upon  Gilbert's  senses.  Then 
words  and  sentences  shaped  themselves  into  form, 
without  conveying  any  special  meaning,  though  ever 
becoming  more  and  more  connected  and  distinct. 

"xPoor  fellow !  How  pale  and  thin  he  has  be- 
come !  I  think  he  must  have  been  ill  since  he  went 
from  hence." 

It  was  Rupert  who  said  this, — Gilbert  recognized 
his  voice. 

"  He  is  my  uncle,  you  know,"  said  a  young  fresh 
female  voice ;  "  would  it  be  very  improper  to  wake 
him  with  a  kiss  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  no  !  "  Gilbert  almost  shrieked, — throwing 
out  his  arms  to  repel  her,  and  struggling  to  free 
himself  from  sleep.  "  Rupert !  Hold  her  back ! 
She  must  not !  " 

Bursting  the  bonds  of  slumber,  he  started  up  and 


298  WINIFRED'S    JE  WELS. 

found  himself  face  to  face  with  Rupert,  and  a  young 
lady,  of  whom,  beautiful  as  she  was,  he  had  only  a 
dim  recollection.  Freddie  was  standing  behind  him, 
and  consequently  out  of  sight. 

"  Let  me  go,"  he  said,  in  a  hoarse  voice ;  "  where 
is  she  ?  I  must  not  meet  her." 

"Are  you  mad,  Gilbert?"  said  his  friend,  seizing 
him  by  the  arm ;  "  you  shall  not  stir  till  you  have 
explained  your  whimsical  conduct." 

"  Dear  uncle !  "  said  Freda,  taking  his  other  hand 
in  both  her  own,  "  what  have  I  done  that  you  will 
not  speak  to  me  ?  " 

"  You  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  are  you  my  sister's  child  ?  " 

"  I  am  Winifred  Trevanian,"  she  replied ;  and  her 
ready  tact,  divining  in  a  moment  the  mistake  he  had 
been  under,  she  added,  "  and  my  friend  is  a  Wini- 
fred also.  Let  me  introduce  you  to  Miss  Winifred 
Wilson.  After  taking  so  much  care  of  us,  and  pre- 
paring this  delightful  surprise,  you  must  not  remain 
strangers." 

But  Gilbert  did  not  yield  to  her  attempt  to  draw 
him  towards  Freddie,  whom  he  had  seen,  out  of  the 
corner  of  his  eye,  trying  to  look  like  an  uncon- 
cerned spectator,  and  failing  therein  most  ludicrously. 

"  Tell  me,  Rupert ! "  he  exclaimed,  in  breathless 
amazement  and  delight,  "  is  this  girl  my  niece  ?  Is 
this  my  sister  Ellen's  daughter  ?  Is  she  your  Wini- 
fred?" 

He  held  Freda  at  arm's  length  while  he  spoke, 
scanning  her  features  with  eager  eyes. 

"  She   is   your   sister's   child,  without  a  doubt," 


DISCO  VERIES.  299 

replied  Rupert,  "  and  she  is  the  only  Winifred  of 
whom  I  have  any  knowledge,  though  I  saw  Miss 
Wilson,  who,  it  seems,  is  also  a  Winifred,  for  a  few 
moments  at  Mrs.  Templeman's." 

"  Dear  child ! "  said  Gilbert,  folding  her  in  his 
arms,  and  kissing  her  tenderly.  "  I  did  not  know 
that  I  had  such  a  sweet  young  relative  till  a  few 
months  ago,  when  Rupert  told  me." 

"  Then,  my  dear  uncle,  why  were  you  so  surprised 
to  see  me  ? "  demanded  Freda,  with  an  air  of  so 
much  innocent  naivete,  that  no  one  but  Freddie  sus- 
pected the  duplicity  that  lay  beneath  it. 

"  I — I,"  stammered  Gilbert,  blushing  like  a  girl 
through  his  sun-burnt  skin, — "  don't  you  ladies  find 
the  sun  unpleasantly  warm  ?  You'll  be  tired,  too, 
with  standing  so  long.  Let  us  go  into  the  arbor." 

His  exultation  at  eluding  Freda's  inconvenient 
question  by  this  brilliant  piece  of  strategy  was  so 
manifest,  that  Freddie  turned  away  her  head  to  hide 
a  smile. 

"  Yes,  by  all  means,  let  us  go  into  the  arbor," 
said  Rupert,  with  nervous  eagerness. 

This  arbor  Was  simply  an  arched  trellis,  over- 
grown with  vines  and  climbing  plants,  which  af- 
forded a  delightful  shade,  though  the  foliage  was 
not,  as  yet,  very  luxuriant;  but  neither  were  the 
sun's  rays  so  fierce  as  to  drive  them  to  seek  its  shel- 
ter, had  not  Freda's  question  compelled  her  uncle  to 
make  the  discovery. 

The  little  retreat  was  furnished  with  seats,  and  a 
small  table. 


300  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

Freda  clung  to  Gilbert's  arm,  as  they  moved  to- 
wards the  arbor. 

Rupert  followed,  nervous  and  unsettled,  but  with 
his  eyes  fixed  sadly  on  the  graceful  figure  before 
him. 

Freddie  felt  as  if  she  belonged  to  nobody,  and 
now  Freda  was  taken  away  from  her,  nobody  be- 
longed to  her;  so  she  walked  in  first  with  a  very 
independent  air,  and  an  uncomfortable  lump  in  her 
throat,  and  sat  down  on  an  isolated  seat  at  the  back 
of  the  arbor. 

Freda  and  Gilbert  took  possession  of  a  settee 
that  was  just  large  enough  for  two;  and  Rupert 
seemed  to  emulate  Freddie  in  keeping  as  far  from 
any  one  else  as  the  narrow  limits  of  the  arbor  per- 
mitted. 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

EXPLANATIONS. 

WITH  all  his  care  and  trouble,  Gilbert  had  only 
succeeded  in  bringing  a  very  inharmonious  party 
together. 

For  his  own  part,  overjoyed  as  he  was  to  learn 
that  Freddie  was  not  his  niece,  the  reaction  was 
almost  too  much  for  him,  following  upon  such  a 
long  period  of  mental  agony.  Then  he  shrank  from 
an  explanation  of  his  strange  conduct  on  the  jour- 
ney, and  while  he  was  so  near  them  in  South  Caro- 
lina, which  must,  he  imagined,  expose  to  all  of  them 
the  crime  of  which  he  had  believed  himself  to  be 
guilty.  Another  reflection  troubled  him, — would 
Freddie  ever  be  induced  to  look  upon  him  with  any 
other  feelings  than  loathing  and  detestation  when 
she  learnt  that,  believing  her  to  be  his  sister's 
daughter,  he  had  not  been  able  to  cease  loving  her  ? 
Did  she  not,  even  now,  hold  herself  aloof,  as  though 
his  mere  presence  brought  contamination  with  it? 
Why  should  she  behave  so,  unless  she  had  detected 
the  disgraceful  fact?  As  for  attempting  to  hide 
from  her  a  thought,  a  feeling,  or  an  act  for  the  pur- 
pose of  putting  a  better  coloring  on  his  own  short- 

301 


302  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

comings,  Gilbert  Bracebridge  was  too  honest  and 
straightforward  even  to  dream  of  attaining  happi- 
ness by  such  crooked  ways. 

Rupert,  when  the  first  effervescence  of  delight  at 
seeing  Freda  had  subsided,  saw  before  him,  in  ten- 
fold magnitude,  all  the  impediments  which  would 
prevent  his  ever  asking  her  to  be  his  wife.  First, 
there  was  his  poverty.  He  had  been  to  the  gold 
diggings,  and  had  lost  the  little  money  he  brought 
with  him.  He  had  no  prospect  but  that  of  labor- 
ing, either  with  hands  or  brain,  for  his  daily  bread. 
Was  that  a  lot  which  he  could  ask  that  delicately 
nurtured  girl  to  share  with  him  ?  Had  he  been  a 
younger  man,  it  might  have  been  otherwise;  but 
his  age  (he  was  forty-three,  poor  fellow!)  besides 
rendering  it  the  height  of  presumption  in  him  to 
woo  so  "young  and  beautiful  a  creature,  made  him 
less  facile  in  adapting  himself  to  new  modes  of  life, 
as  he  had  found  to  his  cost  when  thrown  among 
a  set  of  rude  and  illiterate  miners.  Gilbert  had 
been  under  some  mistake  about  her,  but  he  could 
not  stop  to  inquire  what,  for  every  faculty  of  his 
soul  was  strained  to  discover  some  way  out  of  the 
fearful  dilemma  in  which  he  found  himself. 

Freddie  had  her  own  causes  of  discomfort.  She 
felt  mortified  and  humiliated  as  she  recalled  the  con- 
fidence with  which  she  had  appropriated  to  herself 
the  interest  with  which  Gilbert  had  watched  over 
them  on  the  journey.  So  far  from  this  being  the 
case,  she  now  thought,  perhaps  it  was  her  presence 
that  had  prevented  his  coming  near  Freda  all  the 


EXPLANA  TIONS.  303 

time  !  She  had  been  so  immodest  as  to  betray  her 
love  for  him,  though  she  knew  not  how  nor  when — 
but  then  suddenly  there  flashed  across  her  mind  his 
undisguised  astonishment  and  delight  when  Freda 
addressed  him  as  her  uncle,  and  poor  Freddie's 
heart  beat  wildly,  and  she  hung  her  head,  to  conceal 
her  blushes,  and  cast  one  timid  glance  towards 
Gilbert  But  the  blushes  soon  vanished,  when  she 
saw  that  his  eyes  were  fixed  upon  Freda,  and  she 
remembered,  with  painful  acuteness,  how  he  had 
avoided  an  introduction  to  her.  She  wished  she 
was  dead !  Or  in  the  middle  of  a  desert,  with  no  one 
but  Sultan ! 

Even  Freda  had  her  sources  of  disquietude.  This 
new-found  uncle  was  truly  a  tower  of  strength,  and 
gave  her,  to  a  great  extent,  the  command  of  the 
situation.  It  was  gratifying  to  find  she  had  a  blood 
relation,  after  being  so  long  alone  in  the  world,  yet 
at  the  present  moment  she  valued  him  chiefly  as  a 
means  of  arresting  the  future  flights  of  the  truant 
Rupert,  and  possibly  of  removing  the  secret  sorrow 
which  oppressed  him.  For  herself,  to  act  in  this 
would  be  impossible.  The  change  that  had  come 
over  him,  after  the  first  burst  of  delight  on  recog- 
nizing her,  was  too  palpable  to  be  misunderstood. 
Should  he  announce  his  determination  to  wander  off 
again  to  the  uttermost  confines  of  the  earth,  she 
could  do  nothing  to  prevent  it ;  but  Gilbert  might. 
And  it  was  for  this  that  she  chiefly  valued  Gilbert. 

It  has  taken  some  time  to  describe  thus  minutely 
the  state  of  mind  and  feeling  of  these  four  people. 


304  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

But  it  must  be  remembered  that  mental  processes 
take  place  with  great  rapidity ;  and  as  all  the  four 
brains  were  acting  simultaneously,  the  time  actually 
consumed  was  only  that  which  was  occupied  by 
their  taking  their  seats,  and  a  silence  of  a  few 
moments'  duration  which  then  ensued. 

It  was  a  singular  situation.  It  needed  but  a  little 
more  estrangement,  a  little  more  doubt,  a  little 
more  diffidence,  a  little  more  self-condemnation,  for 
these  lovers  to  part,  and  each  go  on  their  separate 
ways,  alone  through  life. 

Like  a  chemical  mixture,  the  ingredients  of  which 
refuse  to  coalesce  until  a  few  drops  of  some  other 
element  bring  them  into  harmonious  combination, 
they  remained  apart,  until  Gilbert,  throwing  aside 
his  own  troubles,  and  thinking  only  of  his  friend, 
stirred  a>  few  drops  of  unselfish  sympathy  into  the 
hitherto  incongruous  mass  of  thought  and  feeling, 
and  wrought  a  magical  change. 

"  My  friend,"  he  said,  addressing  Rupert,  "  I  see 
that  you  have  a  burthen  on  your  mind.  It  is  pro- 
bably somewhat  that  you  think  my  niece  ought  to 
know." 

<l  Why  should  I  burthen  her  young  soul  with  my 
sorrows  ?  "  said  Rupert,  despondingly. 

"  Because  she  has  a  right  to  hear  them,"  replied 
Gilbert.  "  Now,  tell  me  frankly — shall  I,  as  her 
uncle,  be  present  at  this  conference,  to  give  her  my 
counsel,  if  needful ;  or  shall  I  leave  you  to  your- 
selves ?  Shall  Miss  Wilson  go,  or  stay  ?  " 

"  I  wish  her  to  remain,"  said  Freda. 


EXPLANA  TIONS.  305 

"  And  you,  Gilbert,  know  all  mine ;  and  further- 
more, you  know  a  great  part  of  my  sad  history.  Re- 
main, therefore,  and  Miss  Wilson  likewise ;  and  tell 
your  niece  all  that  she  ought  to  know  about  me.  I 
will  listen,  and  if  your  memory  deceives  you,  I  will 
set  you  right.  Only  spare  my  mother's  name,  and 
the  title  that  she  bore.  Call  her  simply  the  Coun- 
tess." 

"  His  mother,  my  dear  Freda,"  Gilbert  immedi- 
ately began,  "belonged  to  a  noble  family.  She  loved 
the  younger  son  of  a  race  quite  equal  to  her  own, 
but  he  was  not  wealthy,  and  her  relatives  opposed 
the  match,  and  forced  her  to  marry  an  old  and  al- 
most imbecile  man  for  his  title  and  estates.  It  is  a 
sad  story,  but  not  without  precedent  where  girls  are 
compelled  to  marry  contrary  to  their  inclinations. 
Her  lover  became  the  friend  of  the  family,  and — 
and — well — he  was  the  father  of  all  her  children. 
Rupert  was  the  youngest.  The  rest  were  girls,  who 
married  well  when  they  grew  up.  Rupert,  when 
little  more  than  a  boy,  fell  in  love  with  a  beautiful 
girl  whom  his  mother  had  adopted.  The  Countess, 
knowing  by  experience  the  misery  of  a  crossed  af- 
fection, gave  her  consent  to  their  marriage ;  but  it 
seems  that  she  had  not  been  as  thoughtful  for  the 
young  lady  as  for  her  son,  for  on  the  very  eve  of  the 
wedding-day,  the  bride  disappeared,  no  one  knew 
whither,  nor  with  whom.  The  Countess'  lover,  who 
was  in  the  army,  fell,  bravely  fighting,  in  the  cele- 
brated cavalry  charge  at  Balaklava.  The  Countess, 
true  to  her  first  and  only  love,  sickened  and  died  of 


306  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

grief.  But,  before  she  died,  she  confided  the  whole 
truth  to  her  son,  no  doubt  supposing  that  he  would 
be  prouder  to  be  the  son  of  such  a  brave  and  noble 
man  than  of  the  drivelling,  half-idiotic  old  man 
whom  he  had  been  accustomed  to  call  father." 

"  No,  Gilbert,  I  never  called  him  so,"  said  Rupert; 
"  my  sisters  did,  but  to  me  he  was  always  '  Your 
Lordship/  and  '  the  Earl.'  " 

"  But  our  dear  Rupert  has  a  very  tender  consci- 
ence," continued  Gilbert,  "and  from  the  moment 
when  the  death  of  the  old  Earl  put  him  in  possession 
of  the  title  and  estates,  he  felt  that  he  was  defraud- 
ing the  rightful  heir,  and  was  constantly  devising 
plans  for  restoring  all  to  him  without  blackening  his 
mother's  fame,  or  injuring  his  sisters.  The  heir  was 
still  a  boy,  however,  so  there  was  no  need  to  hurry; 
and  meantime,  Rupert  was  a  faithful  steward  of  the 
estates,  and  lived  a  life  so  retired  that  he  took  little 
from  the  property  beyond  the  wages  of  a  steward." 

Freda  had  cast  many  a  glance  of  loving  compas- 
sion upon  Rupert,  as  he  sat  with  his  face  buried  in 
his  hands;  but  now  she  rose  and  sat  beside  him,  with 
a  glow  of  enthusiastic  admiration  on  her  lovely  face. 

Her  uncle  smiled  his  approbation,  and  went  on. 

"  Yes,  for  conscience'  sake,  he  submitted  to  let  the 
world  call  him  a  madman  and  a  miser,  while  he  was 
simply  a  hero.  Another  duty  soon  claimed  him. 
He  discovered  that  the  object  of  his  boyish  love  was 
living  in  France,  in  great  poverty.  He  went  to  her 
aid  and  — " 

"  Gilbert,  let  me  speak  now,"  said  Rupert,  rising. 


EXPLANA  TIONS.  307 

"  You  remember  that  night,  Freda,  when  your  house 
was  burnt.  You  know  something  of  what  happened. 
I  followed  that  man  and  shot  him.  Not  in  cold 
blood,  but  to  obtain  from  him  the  key,  and  save 
your  life.  Freda,  I  love  you — I  have  loved  you  for 
years — but,  can  you  give  your  heart  to  the  man  who 
shed  your  father's  blood,  cruel  and  unnatural  though 
that  father  was  ?  " 

"Stop,"  cried  Freddie,  suddenly;  "  had  you  cer- 
tain proof  of  his  death  ?  Did  you  see  him,  dead  ?  " 

"  I  did  not ;  but  I  was  told  that  he  survived  only 
a  short  time." 

"Did  Captain  Grainger  tell  you  that?"  asked 
Freddie;  "but,  no  matter.  I  must  tell  you  all  I 
know,  and  you  will,  I  hope,  be  able  to  sift  out  the 
truth." 

Then  she  narrated,  almost  literally,  all  that  had 
been  said  by  the  wounded  Ku-Klux,  and  produced 
the  pocket-book,  which,  on  examination,  contained 
abundant  proofs  that  Captain  Grainger  and  Randolph 
Trevanian  were  identical. 

As  she  proceeded,  Freda  shrank  downwards,  till 
she  seemed  to  have  collapsed  into  a  heap.  But 
when  Freddie  had  ended,  she  rose  up,  dignified  and 
calm.  Her  face  was  very  pale,  but  it  wore  an  ex- 
pression of  high  and  holy  resolution  which  seemed 
more  than  human.  Her  companions  looked  at  her 
in  mute  reverence,  for,  in  its  intensified  beauty,  her 
face  was  as  the  face  of  an  anerel. 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

FREDA'S  vow. 

"  OH,  RUPERT  !  "  said  Freda,  in  a  low  but  distinct 
tone,  as  she  placed  both  her  hands  in  his,  and  looked 
in  his  face  with  an  expression  of  mingled  love,  com- 
passion, and  inflexible  resolution,  "  a  little  while  ago 
my  highest  hope  was  that  I  might  hear  you  say  you 
loved  me;  for  I  am  not  ashamed  to  own,  in  the 
presence  of  my  one  dear  friend,  and  of  my  uncle, 
who  is  to  you  like  a  brother,  that  I  have  loved  you 
for  many  years." 

"Then  why  do  your  looks  assure  me  that  you 
have  resolved  to  refuse  me?"  exclaimed  Rupert, 
passionately.  "  Yet,  why  need  I  ask  ?  I  am  pun- 
ished for  my  mother's  fault." 

"  Not  so,  dear  Rupert,"  continued  Freda,  with 
increasing  tenderness  of  tone  and  manner ;  "  it  is 
not  for  your  mother's  fault  (if  the  fault  were  hers), 
it  is  not  because  you  aimed  at  my  unworthy  father's 
life,  nor  is  it  because  your  boyish  love  was  given  to 
my  mother,  that  I  tell  you  I  must  not  be  your 
wife." 

"  Oh,  Freda !  Do  not  be  so  cruel !  "  exclaimed 
Freddie. 

308 


FREDA'S    VOW.  305 

"  Winifred !  What  is  this  nonsense  ?  Explain 
yourself,"  said  Gilbert,  angrily,  while  Rupert  uttered 
a  cry  of  despair. 

"  It  is  neither  cruelty  nor  nonsense,"  replied  Freda, 
turning  towards  them  a  face  that  was  pale  with  sup- 
pressed anguish  ;  "  but  obedience  to  what  I  know  is 
right." 

"Explain  yourself,"  repeated  Gilbert;  then  mut- 
tered between  his  teeth,  "  the  girl  is  either  a  fool  or 
mad  ! " 

"  And  supposing  that  my  father  had  been  mad," 
said  Freda,  who  had  caught  the  drift  of  his  words, 
"  or  that  he  was  the  victim  of  some  dreadful  heredi- 
tary disease,  would  it  be  right  for  his  child  to  marry, 
at  the  risk,  nay,  with  the  certainty,  of  transmitting 
such  evils  to  an  unborn  generation  ?  " 

"  Rupert,  what  do  you  know  of  this  ?  "  said  Gil- 
bert, still  frowning.  "  Was  her  father  insane  ?  " 

"  No !  "  exclaimed  Rupert,  catching  eagerly  at 
the  hope  this  question  suggested,  "  neither  insane 
nor  diseased.  Freda,  my  beloved  one,  your  fears 
are  groundless.  The  disfigurement  of  his  face  pro- 
ceeded from  accident,  and  not,  as  you  suppose,  from 
disease." 

"Alas!"  sighed  Freda,  "is  there  no  disease  but 
that  of  the  body  ?  Was  not  his  soul  diseased,  till  it 
was  one  mass  of  crime  and  baseness  ?  " 

"  Freda  is  right ! "  cried  Freddie,  starting  up. 
"And  you  would  pay  dearly  for  a  few  years  of 
happiness,  were  you  to  have  such  a  son  as  Ernest 
Templeman." 


310  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  But  Freda  is  all  goodness,"  persisted  Rupert. 

"  So  was  Mrs.  Templeman,"  rejoined  Freddie ; 
"she  was  as  good  a  woman  as  ever  lived.  Her 
husband  was  an  honorable,  upright  man ;  but  his 
father  was  a  dissipated  wretch,  a  gambler,  a  dueltist, 
and  everything  that  is  vile  and  dishonorable.  His 
grandson  inherited  all  his  vices,  and  sent  both  his 
parents,  prematurely,  to  their  graves.  Could  you 
endure  to  see  Freda  the  mother  of  such  a  son  ?  " 

"  Freda,  my  poor  child,"  said  her  uncle,  drawing 
her  towards  him,  and  pillowing  her  pale  cheek  upon 
his  breast,  "the  course  you  have  determined  upon 
is  the  right  one.  I  have  myself  known  cases  where 
similar  sense  and  firmness  would  have  saved  an 
immense  amount  of  wretchedness ;  and  yet,  in  not 
one  instance,  was  the  apparent  danger  so  great  as  in 
yours." 

"  Are  you  too  against  me,  Gilbert  ?  Then  I  have 
no  longer  a  hope,  nor  a  friend  !  " 

As  Rupert  said  this,  he  flung  himself  on  a  seat, 
and  sobbed  wildly  and  bitterly. 

Freda  struggled  to  leave  her  uncle's  encircling 
arms,  to  go  and  console  her  unhappy  lover;  but 
Gilbert  restrained  her  when  he  saw  that  Freddie 
had  started  forward  and  was  whispering  to  him. 

"  Let  her  talk  to  him,"  he  said ;  "  her  words  are 
sure  to  do  him  good." 

All  that  Freddie  said  was,  "  Oh,  Mr.  Forester,  can 
you  not  control  your  emotions  ?  Don't  you  see 
that  she  suffers  more  than  you  ?  " 

This  appeal   to    Rupert's  noble  nature  was  not 


FREDA'S    VOW.  311 

made  in  vain.  After  a  brief  mental  struggle,  he 
raised  his  pallid  face,  still  quivering  from  the  effects 
of  the  past  tempest,  and  said,  "  Freda,  you  are 
right;  and  I  will  loyally  abide  by  your  decision. 
My  life  has  hitherto  been  one  long  sacrifice  to  what 
I  held  to  be  my  duty,  and  so  it  must  continue." 

"  A  sacrifice  to  duty  brings  its  own  reward,"  said 
Freda ;  "  thank  you,  dear  love,  for  supporting  me  in 
mine." 

As  she  said  this,  she  impressed  a  kiss  upon  her 
lover's  marble  brow. 

"  On  my  lips,  Freda,"  he  whispered,  imploringly, 
"  only  this  once." 

"  Not  once  only,  dear  Rupert,"  said  she,  sweetly 
complying,  with  a  wife-like  dignity,  "  it  would  be 
foolish  to  deny  ourselves  such  a  harmless  pleasure. 
In  spirit,  I  am  your  wife." 

"  And  I  am  happier  in  having  such  a  wife,  even 
on  those  terms,  than  to  be  wedded  to  a  less  perfect 
creature  in  an  earthly  union,"  said  Rupert,  inspired 
by  her  enthusiasm. 

"  Be  as  contented  as  you  can  with  your  bad  bar- 
gain," said  Freda,  "  but  don't  spoil  her  by  flattery. 
Now,  let  us  talk  of  what  we  are  going  to  do.  Uncle, 
can  we  all  live  together  ?  " 

"  I — I — hope  so,"  replied  Gilbert,  with  his  eyes 
fixed  on  the  ground.  He  felt  very  humble  at  that 
moment,  and  doubted  much  whether  Freddie  would 
ever  consent  to  be  the  wife  of  such  a  criminal. 

"  Then,  I  propose  that  we  join  together,  and  buy 
a  farm,"  said  Freda,  looking  bright  and  happy, 


312  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

though  there  was  a  difll  aching  pain  at  her  heart  all 
the  time,  that  might  be  hidden,  but  could  not  be 
subdued. 

"  You  are  too  hasty,  Freda,"  said  her  uncle ;  "  Miss 
Wilson  may  object  to  such  an  arrangement." 

Had  he  looked  up,  he  would  have  seen  Freddie's 
eyes  fixed  on  him,  very  wide  open,  and  full  of  tears. 

"  I  do  not  think  Freddie  will  desert  me  in  my 
happiness,  after  we  have  suffered  so  much  together," 
replied  Freda. 

"Happiness!"  sighed  Rupert,  derisively;  "then  I 
suppose  Tantalus  was  happy." 

"  Shall  we  live  apart,  then,  Rupert  ?  " 

"  No,  no ;  I  am  a  thankless  brute !  "  he  exclaimed. 
"  I  will  learn  to  bear  my  lot  more  patiently,  my  love. 
And,  after  all,  it  would  be  folly  to  dream  of  any 
other  for  some  time  to  come ;  for,  dearest  Freda,  I 
am  little  better  than  a  pauper.  You  must,  therefore, 
leave  me  out  of  your  calculations.  I  cannot  join 
you  in  purchasing  a  farm,  but  if  you  will  employ  me 
as  a  laborer — " 

"  What  nonsense  are  you  talking,  Rupert,"  cried 
Freda,  with  vivacity,  "are  there  not  my  famous 
jewels  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  claim  on  them,"  said  he. 

"  You  have  exactly  the  same  claim  that  I  have. 
But  they  may  not  be  worth  quarrelling  about,"  she 
added,  with  an  attempt  at  a  laugh ;  "  what  is  their 
value  ?  " 

"I  have  no  idea,"  he  replied;  "have  you  not 
shown  them  to  a  jeweller  ?  " 


FREDAS     VOW.  313 

"  No,  for  I  have  not  seen  them  myself,"  answered 
Freda ;  "  you  did  not  leave  the  key,  and  I  would  not 
have  the  box  broken  except  in  a  case  of  dire  neces- 
sity. That  time  has  now  arrived ;  so,  if  you  will 
help  me  to  unstrap  my  trunk,  I  will  produce  it,  and 
uncle  Gilbert  will  break  it  open." 

"  I  can  save  him  that  trouble,"  said  Rupert,  taking 
from  his  neck  the  ribbon  to  which  the  little  gold  key 
was  attached ;  "  here  is  your  key,  my  Freda.  It  was 
the  only  link  that  connected  my  old,  false  existence, 
as  a  sham  Earl,  with  the  newer  and  truer  life  of  Ru- 
pert Forester." 

"  How  singular !  "  cried  Freda ;  "  that  is  almost 
the  same  idea  that  occurred  to  Freddie.  She  said 
this  little  key  would  be  a  bond  to  draw  us  together 
again.  Now,  let  us  open  this  Pandora's  box  of  mine, 
and  see  what  mischief  we  can  set  loose  from  it." 

"  Do  not  call  it  a  Pandora's  box,  love,"  said  Ru- 
pert, as  he  left  the  arbor,  with  Freda  on  his  arm, 
"  for  Hope  was  left  at  the  bottom  of  that,  and  what 
hope  is  there  for  us  ?  " 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

FREDDIE'S  CONFESSION. 

IT  was  not  without  design  that  Freda  drew  Rupert 
away  from  the  arbor. 

Poignant  as  was  her  own  grief  at  being  compelled 
by  conscience  to  pronounce  the  fiat  that  must  for- 
ever preclude  her  from  becoming  Rupert's  wife,  and 
deep  as  was  her  distress  for  her  lover's  suffering,  she 
still  felt  sympathy  for  others,  and  generously  desired 
to  see  them  enjoying  the  happiness  from  which  she 
was  debarred. 

She  saw  that  both  Freddie  and  Gilbert  were  em- 
barrassed, and  wisely  concluded  that  they  would  be 
more  likely  to  come  to  a  mutual  understanding  if 
left  alone,  than  if  she  or  Rupert,  with  the  best  in- 
tentions, in  the  world,  were  to  attempt  to  clear  the 
way  for  them.  She  knew  that  Freddie  loved  Gil- 
bert ;  and  entertained  a  shrewd  guess  at  the  blunder 
which,  if  Gilbert  returned  her  love,  would  fully  and 
naturally  account  for  his  apparently  capricious  con- 
duct during  and  preceding  the  journey. 

She  did  not  confide  her  thoughts  to  Rupert,  but 
talked  to  him  cheerfully  (though  her  •  own  heart 
was  sad  enough)  about  the  happiness  of  being 
3'4 


FREDDIE'S    CONFESSION.  315 

always  together,  and  laid  out  many  a  plan  for  their 
future  life ;  till  Rupert,  recalling  the  dreary  prospect 
of  a  lonely  life,  which  had  been  his  only  out-look 
but  a  few  hours  before,  blamed  himself  for  rinding 
aught  to  complain  of  in  his  present  lot. 

Gilbert  sat  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground, 
trying  to  frame  a  sentence  in  which  to  address  Fred- 
die, and  feeling  that  every  minute  passed  in  silence 
augmented  the  difficulty  of  speaking. 

Freddie,  after  glancing  round  to  see  if  there  was 
any  way  of  escaping  from  the  arbor,  and  finding 
there  was  none  except  the  regular  entrance,  through 
which  she  could  not  pass  without  brushing  against 
her  silent  companion,  determined  to  dash  out  of  the 
very  embarrassing  silence,  if  she  could  not  out  of 
the  arbor. 

"  Mr.  Bracebridge,"  she  said,  in  a  composed  and 
matter-of-fact  tone. 

Probably  the  report  of  a  pistol  in  his  ear  would 
not  have  startled  him  so  much  as  the  sound  of  his 
name,  spoken  by  her.  He  blushed,  and  turned  pale 
by  turns,  stammered  out  a  few  incoherent  words, 
and  finally  succeeded,  by  an  inclination  of  his  head, 
in  making  her  understand  that  he  was  listening. 

As  might  be  expected,  these  symptoms  of  dis- 
quietude on  his  part,  inspired  her  with  fresh  courage. 

"  When  Freda  proposed  to  buy  a  farm,"  she  con- 
tinued, "you  appeared  to  have  some  objection  to 
my  joining  in  the  enterprise,  and — " 

"  You  !  "  he  exclaimed,  interrupting  her.  "  O  Miss 
Wilson,  what  could  induce  you  to  think  so  ?  " 


' 

316  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  I  only  judge  from  your  own  words  and  manner," 
she  replied;  "but  at  any  rate,  there  are  circum- 
stances in  my  life  with  which  you  ought  to  be  ac- 
quainted, before  you  give  your  sanction  to  a  closer 
bond  of  intimacy  between  your  niece  and  me." 

"  What  can  you  mean  ?  Freda  knows  and 
esteems  you." 

"  Your  superior  knowledge  of  the  world  may  in- 
duce you  to  view  my  errors  in  a  different  light  from 
that  which  Freda's  indulgent  affection  gives  them," 
said  Freddie,  rejoicing  to  see  how  miserable  he 
looked. 

"  I  will  not  hear  you  say  anything  against  your- 
self," said  Gilbert;  "what  wrong  can  you  have 
committed  ?  " 

"  You  must  hear  what  I  have  to  say,"  persisted 
Freddie ;  "  many  people  would  consider  it  a  disgrace 
to  associate  with  me." 

"  For  God's  sake,  do  not  tell  me !  "  he  said,  bow- 
ing his  face  upon  his  hands;  "if  Freda  knows,  that 
is  enough.  What  am  I,  that  you  should  tell  your 
faults  to  me,  if  yon  have  any?  You  may  have 
committed  some  foolish  action — but  let  it  rest." 

"  It  is  of  no  use  trying  to  dissuade  me,"  she  said, 
"you  are  Freda's  uncle,  and  I  am  determined  to 
tell  you  all  that  happened  in  my  past  life,  which  you 
might  find  objectionable  in  your  niece's  friend  and 
companion." 

Gilbert  groaned,  and  said  no  more. 

Freddie's  heart  beat  violently,  for  she  knew  that 
to  have  been  a  Circus  performer  would  stamp  her  in 


. 

FREDDIE'S    CONFESSION.  317 

the  eyes  of  many  a  man  as  an  outcast  from  all  re- 
spectable society.  Every  word  that  he  uttered,  and 
his  very  reluctance  to  hear  her  confession,  told  her 
that  he  loved  her,  and  made  her  the  more  anxious 
to  put  him  in  possession  of  her  past  history,  before 
he  could  commit  himself  by  any  direct  avowal,  which 
would  render  it  so  much  more  painful  for  him  to 
retract. 

Having  reduced  him  to  silence,  she  dashed  at  once 
into  her  subject. 

"  When  I  was  fifteen,"  she  began,  "  I  was  cruelly 
treated  at  school,  so  I  ran  away  and  joined  a  travel- 
ling Circus.  I  staid  with  the  company  three  years, 
performing  in  public  all  the  time." 

Her  voice  was  choked  with  tears,  and  she  was 
obliged  to  stop. 

"  Have  you  nothing  worse  than  that  to  tell  ? " 
asked  Gilbert,gin  a  low  voice  that  trembled  with 
emotion. 

"There  are  many  other  things,  but  that's  the 
worst,"  said  Freddie,  humbly. 

"  It  did  you  no  harm,  I  am  certain,"  he  said,  as, 
taking  a  deep  breath,  indicative  of  satisfaction,  he 
leaned  back  in  his  seat,  and  watched  her  with  a  smile  ; 
"  now,  tell  me  some  more  of  your  horrors.  They'll 
be  amusing,  to  judge  from  the  sample." 

"  I  learned  to  play  on  the  violin,"  said  Freddie. 

"Excellent!     We  shall  have  plenty  of  music." 

"  And  I  learned  to  shoot." 

"  Ho  !  Don't  I  know  that  ?  "  he  said,  laughing ; 
"and  you  can  threaten  to  shoot  your  friends,  too. 


318  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

Well,  that  accomplishment  may  be  serviceable  in  case 
we  have  rough  neighbors.  What's  the  next  crime?" 

"  I  learned  to  box,"  said  Freddie,  almost  vexed  at 
having  thrown  away  her  penitence  on  such  an  im- 
perturbable being. 

"  Whew  !  That's  formidable,"  ejaculated  Gilbert, 
his  eyes  dancing  with  fun. 

"And  I  know  a  great  deal  about  horses,  and  how 
to  tame  them  by  Rarey's  plan." 

"  Very  useful,  indeed,"  he  said,  with  provoking 
seriousness,  "  I  shall  ask  you  to  teach  me." 

"And  I  can  turn  somersaults,"  said  Freddie,  bent 
upon  ruffling  his  equanimity. 

"Not  so  useful,  certainly;  though  highly  am  us- 
irig." 

Freddie  was  furious,  and  threw  her  trump  card, 
as  she  said,  almost  choking  with  shame  and  self- 
reproach  :  "  I  am  horribly  strong !  ^w  men  are  so 
strong  as  I  am.  I  am  altogether  dreadful  and  un- 
womanly! " 

"  Strength  is  a  great  blessing,"  he  replied,  calmly, 
"  and  appearances  are  often  fallacious.  You  look 
like  a  very  finely  developed  woman ;  but  you  may 
be,  as  you  say,  a  Hercules  in  petticoats.  Can  you 
release  your  arm  ?  " 

He  encircled  her  wrist  lightly  with  his  fingers  as 
he  said  this. 

A  sneer  of  petulent  defiance  curled  her  lip,  and 
she  gave  her  arm  a  wrench  that  would  have  freed  it 
instantly  from  the  grasp  of  even  a  strong  man.  But 
Gilbert's  hand  seemed  like  a  band  of  iron. 


FREDDIE'S     CONFESSION,  319 

All  the  hardness  and  defiance  and  self-condemna- 
tion passed  at  once  from  her  face,  and  a  deep  blush, 
and  an  air  of  humility  overspread  it. 

"  Have  I  lost  my  strength  ?  "  she  whispered. 

"No,"  he  replied,  "you  have  only  found  your 
master." 

She  looked  up  at  him,  just  as  she  had  done  in 
the  cottage,  so  long  ago,  and  again  their  eyes  met. 
But  his  gaze  was  no  longer  sorrowful.  He  was  not, 
now,  bound  to  leave  her  without  a  word  of  love. 
He  knew,  on  the  contrary,  that  if  he  spoke,  his 
words  would  find  the  response  that  he  desired.  Yet 
he  did  exactly  what  he  had  done  before.  He  laid 
his  hand  upon  her  head,  and  blessed  her. 

"  Come !  "  said  Gilbert,  after  a  short  silence,  "  let 
us  see  if  those  two  people  have  found  their  box  of 
treasure." 

Freddie  rose,  and  accompanied  him  without  a 
word. 

"  Theirs  is  a  sad  lot,"  he  continued,  "  and  I  feel 
that  it  would  be  selfish  to  enjoy  our  own  happiness 
while  their  grief  is  yet  so  new.  Do  you  not  feel  as 
I  do, — Freddie  ?  " 

There  was  a  loving  lingering  upon  her  name 
which  he  pronounced  for  the  first  time,  that  was 
not  lost  upon  Freddie. 

"  Certainly  I  do,"  she  replied,  though  hardly 
knowing  what  to  say. 

"  You  have  confided  to  me  all  your  little  pecca- 
dilloes, or  what  you  imagine  to  be  such,"  said  he, 
"but  I  have  a  confession  of  a  much  graver  character 


320  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

to  make  to  you,  when  the  time  comes  for  speaking 
on  another  subject.  But  they  are  so  inter-linked 
that  they  must  both  wait.  I  am  somewhat  hopeful 
of  a  favorable  construction ;  for  one,  so  ready  to 
condemn  herself  for  no  faults  at  all,  will  not  be  a 
very  severe  censor  of  other  people's  sins." 

They  met  Freda  and  Rupert  coming  from  the 
house,  bringing  the  little  jewel  case  with  them. 

"  Can  you  guess  at  the  value  of  your  possessions, 
Freda  ?  "  asked  her  uncle. 

"  No,  we  have  not  yet  opened  the  box,"  she  re- 
plied, "  it  is  an  affair  that  concerns  us  all,  so  we 
ought  all  to  be  present  at  the  examination.  We 
are  going  back  to  the  arbor  to  investigate  it, — so 
come  along." 

Freda  walked  on,  leaning  on  Rupert's  arm.  Gil- 
bert looked  after  them,  and  then  drew  Freddie's 
arm  within  his  own. 

"  Ah  !  This  hand !  "  he  said,  reverentially  raising 
it  to  his  lips,  "  how  well  I  remember  watching  it,  as 
it  chafed  and  warmed  the  soiled  feet  of  that  poor  out- 
cast woman!  Do  you  recollect  that  time,  Freddie? 
Do  you  remember  that  we  met  once  in  England?" 

"  What  a  stupid  question  !  "  exclaimed  Freddie. 

"It's  all  right,  then,"  said  he,  laughing  softly. 
"  I  feared  my  vanity  might  have  misled  me." 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

THE    JEWEL   CASE    IS   OPENED. 

"  BEFORE  opening  this  box,"  said  Rupert,  when 
they  were  once  more  seated  in  the  arbor,  "  my  dear 
Freda  wis*hes  me  to  recount  to  her  and  her  friend, 
Miss  Wilson,  the  rest  of  my  adventures  up  to  our 
most  unexpected  meeting  here  this  morning." 

Gilbert  would  gladly  have  deferred  this  recital, 
dreading  lest  he  too  might  be  called  upon  to  ex- 
plain; but  while  he  was  seeking  for  an  excuse, 
Rupert  took  up  the  thread  of  his  story,  and,  avoid- 
ing any  allusion  to  Captain  Grainger,  otherwise 
Randolph  Trevanian,  related  briefly  all  the  circum- 
stances of  his  supposed  death,  and  subsequent  expe- 
riences during  his  departure  from  England,  and  his 
short  and  unsuccessful  attempt  at  mining. 

"  Gilbert  left  me  here  to  recruit  my  health  and 
strength,"  he  said  in  conclusion,  "  while  he  started 
on  a  mysterious  expedition  to  New  York.  But  if 
his  departure  was  mysterious,  his  coming  back  was 
tenfold  more  so.  Now  I  think  we  all  have  a  right 
to  demand  an  explanation  of  this  conduct.  It  was 
natural  enough  to  keep  me  in  the  dark,  for  the  morbid 
feelings  under  which  I  then  labored  would  probably 
21,  321 


322  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

have  sent  me  off  on  my  wanderings  again,  before  he 
could  get  back.  But  that  he  should  affect  all  this 
mystery  in  his  relations  with  you,  Freda,  is  what  I 
cannot,  by  any  means,  comprehend.  Prisoner  at 
the  bar,  what  have  you  to  say  in  your  de- 
fence ?  " 

Gilbert  folded  his  arms  on  the  table,  and  rested 
his  forehead  on  them,  thus  effectually  concealing  his 
face  from  his  inquisitor. 

"  It  was  all  a  confounded  blunder,"  he  said ; 
"  and  now,  oblige  me  by  letting  the  subject  drop." 

"Your  conduct  also  was  most  unaccountable, 
Freda,"  continued  Rupert.  "  How  came  you  to 
trust  yourself  to  the  care  and  guidance  of  an  utter 
stranger  ?  " 

"  He  won  our  confidence  by  protecting  us  in  a 
time  of  great  danger,"  replied  Freda;  and  forthwith 
she  related  the  nocturnal  attack  of  the  disguised 
ruffians  upon  the  house,  and  the  gallant  defence 
which  Gilbert  had  made. 

"  Every  attempt  at  explanation  only  increases  the 
confusion,"  said  Rupert,  when  she  ceased  speaking. 
"Why  did  he  come  in  disguise?  Why  did  he  not 
say  he  was  your  uncle,  and  assert  his  right  to  pro- 
tect you  ?  " 

"  He  was  acquainted  with  Freddie  in  England," 
said  Freda,  demurely,  but  suggestively. 

"  Deeper  and  deeper  still !  "  said  Rupert,  grow- 
ing more  and  more  bewildered.  "  That  gave  him  a 
right  to  protect  her  also." 

"  But,"  continued  Freda,  with  the  same  Quaker- 


THE     JEWEL     CASE    IS     OPENED.  323 

like  simplicity,  '"probably  he  did  not  know  there 
were  two  Winifreds  at  Mrs.  Templeman's." 

Gilbert  moaned,  and  Freddie,  who  had  hitherto 
succeeded  in  looking  quite  composed,  blushed  to  the 
roots  of  her  hair. 

Rupert  was  silent  for  a  few  moments,  while  the 
truth  gradually  dawned  upon  him. 

"  Give  me  your  hand,  my  boy,"  he  said,  in  a  low 
tone,  "  and  forgive  me  for  having  pressed  my  ques- 
tions so  closely.  You  acted  nobly.  Now  for  this 
box,"  he  continued,  changing  his  tone  and  manner ; 
"  my  Freda  has  convinced  me  that  even  to  me  it 
may  prove  to  be  a  Pandora's  box,  since  it  gives  me 
the  hope  of  a  life  of  quiet  usefulness,  brightened  by 
the  sunshine  of  her  companionship.  May  you,  my 
friends,  be  equally  blessed,  both  through  the  con- 
tents of  this  casket,  and  with  every  happiness  this 
world  can  afford  you." 

He  raised  the  lid,  and  taking  out  the  trays,  dis- 
played a  selection  of  beautiful  ornaments,  which, 
little  as  any  of  them  knew  of  such  things,  they  were 
sure  must  be  worth  several  thousand  dollars." 

"And  now*,"  said  Gilbert,  "  let  us  talk  about  busi- 
ness. Which  of  these  pretty  things  do  you  wish  to 
sell,  Freda  ?  " 

"All"  replied  Freda,  emphatically,  " except  this 
little  ring  which  my  mother  used  to  wear.  I  will 
keep  that,  and  I  wish  Freddie  to  accept  one." 

"  Let  it  be  the  plainest  you  can  find,  Freda,"  said 
Freddie ;  "  because  it  is  not  for  its  marketable  value, 
but  as  your  gift  that  I  shall  prize  it." 


324  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

Freda  selected  a  beautiful  turquoise,  which,  after 
Freddie  had  put  it  on  the  third  finger  of  her  right 
hand,  Gilbert  begged  leave  to  inspect.  While  doing 
so,  he  slipped  it  on  his  own  little  finger,  before  re- 
turning it. 

"  Why  do  you  wish  to  sell  them  all,  Freda  ? " 
asked  her  uncle ;  "  would  it  not  be  better  to  sell  only 
a  part  of  them  at  first,  and  keep  the  rest,  in  case  you 
might  wish  to  wear  them  ?  " 

"  I  shall  never  wish  to  wear  them,"  she  replied, 
with  tears  in  her  eyes  and  voice,  "  how  could  I,  with 
so  many  painful  associations  connected  with  them  ?  " 

"  You  are  right,  love,  quite  right,"  he  said ;  "  the 
next  question  is,  where  can  they  be  sold  to  the  best 
advantage?  I  think  they  should  be  taken  to^  New 
York ;  and,  if  you  will  intrust  the  matter  to  my  man- 
agement, I  will  start  off  at  once." 

This  offer  was  joyfully  accepted,  and  the  following 
morning  was  fixed  for  his  departure. 

The  day  passed  quickly  away.  Freda  was  con- 
stantly by  Rupert's  side,  talking  hopefully  of  the 
future.  The  appearance  of  a  shadow  on  his  brow, 
or  the  sound  of  a  suppressed  sigh,  was  the  signal 
for  renewed  cheerfulness  on  her  part.  Freddie 
seconded  her  with  consummate  skill  and  tact ;  but 
the  two  girls,  as  though  by  mutual  consent,  avoided 
being  left  tete-d-tete  for  even  a  moment. 

Gilbert  was  puzzled,  and  even  felt  rather  annoyed 
that  Freddie  should  show  so  little  regret  at  the 
prospect  of  his  absence  for  three,  or  possibly  four 
weeks. 


THE     JEWEL     CASE    IS     OPENED.  325 

"  Freda  must  be  blessed  with  a  remarkably  buoy- 
ant disposition,"  he  took  an  opportunity  of  remark- 
ing to  Freddie,  when  he  found  himself  alone  with 
her;  "  she  seems  to  have  entirely  got  over  the  shock 
which  she  experienced  this  morning  at  the  disclos- 
ure of  her  father's  villainy,  and  to  think  no  more  of 
all  the  pain  and  disappointment  which  she  felt  bound 
to  inflict,  in  consequence,  upon  the  man  who  loves 
her  so  passionately.  She  was  quite  right  in  acting 
as  she  did,  I  cannot  deny  that ;  yet  I  should  have 
expected  she  would  have  grieved  about  it  a  little ; 
that  is,  if  she  had  loved  him.  She  seemed  pleased,  also, 
to  find  she  had  an  uncle  in  the  world ;  yet  she  don't 
care  much  about  his  going  away  for  a  month  or  two." 

The  gist  of  this  speech  lay  in  the  closing  sen- 
tence, which  was  aimed  at  Freddie  herself. 

"  Are  you  so  blind  ?  "  she  said,  looking  reproach- 
fully in  his  face  ;  "if  Freda  gave  way  to  weeping  and 
wailing,  what  would  become  of  Rupert  ?  She  does 
it  for  his  sake ;  can't  you  see  that,  you  owl  ?  And 
I — heaven  help  me! — I'm  trying  all  I  can  to  support 
her,  though  I  am  miserable  myself.  And  it's  very 
cruel  of  you  to  say  such  things." 

"  Will  you  forgive  me  ?  "  he  asked,  very  humbly. 

"You  spoke  unkindly  about  Freda;  how  can  / 
forgive  wrongs  inflicted  upon  her?"  retorted  Fred- 
die, beginning  to  fence. 

"  Are  you  sorry  I  am  going  away,  Freddie  ?  " 

"  You  have  no  right  to  ask  that  question,  Mr. 
Bracebridge,"  replied  Freddie,  with  a  great  assump- 
tion of  dignity. 


326  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  Will  you  give  me  the  right  ?  " 

"Certainly  not,"  she  said,  dogmatically;  then 
added,  sotto  voce,  "  without  being  asked  for  it." 

"  Then  I'll  ask  for  it  when  I  come  back  from  New 
York,"  he  said,  taking  one  of  Freddie's  hands,  and 
fondling  it  in  both  his  own ;  "  our  poor  friends  will 
have  got  over  the  first  smart  "of  their  sorrow  by  that 
time,  and  it  wont  be  so  confoundedly  selfish  to  be 
happy.  We  understand  one  another,  and  that  must 
suffice  for  the  present;  must  it  not,  dear  Freddie  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Bracebridge,  you  are  extremely  enigmati- 
cal," said  Freddie,  trying  to  look  unconscious. 

"  Now,  Freddie,"  exclaimed  Gilbert,  in  a  tone  of 
grave  reproof,  "  don't  begin  that  sort  of  thing.  Na- 
ture did  not  make  you  a  coquette,  but  a  noble 
woman,  as  strong  and  beautiful  in  soul  as  you  are  in 
body.  Don't  try  to  undo  her  work  by  affecting 
pettinesses  of  character  that  are  unworthy  of  you, 
and  altogether  foreign  to  your  true  disposition.  Will 
you  give  me  one  moment's  private  interview  to- 
morrow before  I  start  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  decisively. 

He  pressed  her  hand,  and  strode  away. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 


GILBERTS   JOURNEY. 

GILBERT,  understanding  the  role  which  the  two 
girls  were  playing,  aided  them  considerably  that 
evening,  as  they  sat  in  the  moonlight  on  the  piazza. 

He  gave  the  little  party  such  a  glowing  descrip- 
tion of  a  ranche  which  he  had  seen  some  months 
before,  and  which,  before  leaving  San  Francisco  that 
morning,  he  had  ascertained  was  stifl  in  the  market, 
that  even  Rupert  was  roused  to  take  an  interest  in 
his  plans  for  purchasing  and  settling  on  it. 

He  dilated  on  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  the  pic- 
turesqueness  of  the  landscape,  the  beauty  of  the 
cascade,  and  the  value  of  the  water-power,  the  abun- 
dance" and  size  of  the  timber,  and  the  facilities  for 
building  a  house  on  an  elevated  plateau,  where  a 
delicious  climate  reigned  throughout  the  year. 

"  The  house  of  the  present  proprietor,"  he  con- 
tinued, "  is  built  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  so  that  he 
suffers  from  the  intense  heat  of  the  summer;  but 
we  can  let  Sam  Watson  have  that,  and  teach  him 
how  to  cultivate  tropical  fruits  for  us,  which  we  can 
enjoy  in  our  eyrie." 

"  Sam  Watson ! "  exclaimed  Freda, "  is  he  coming ?  " 

327 


328  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  Yes,  as  soon  as  his  leg  is  well  enough  to  allow 
him  to  travel,  he  will  bring  on  your  horses.  He 
wishes  to  settle  here,  and  I  promise'd  to  get  work 
for  him.  I  knew  that  Rupert  would  employ  him, 
if  I  asked  it.  And,  by  the  bye,  Rupert,  I  gave 
him  a  whole  packet  of  envelopes  addressed  to  you, 
in  which  he  is  to  send  letters  from  different  points 
of  his  journey,  to  acquaint  you  with  his  safety,  and 
that  of  his  precious  charge.  So  you  will  probably 
have  something  to  keep  you  lively  while  I  am  gone. 
Sam  is  an  excellent  house  carpenter,  and  if  we 
make  him  boss,  and  work  under  him,  we  shall  not 
require  much  help  besides." 

"  Make  him  what  ?  "  said  Freda,  in  amazement. 

"  Boss,"  repeated  her  uncle. 

"  And  what  is  boss  ?  "  asked  Freda  again. 

There  Was  a  general  laugh  at  her  simplicity,  and 
the  meaning  of  the  mysterious  syllable  was  ex- 
plained. 

"  You  and  I  and  Sam,"  continued  Gilbert,  "  will 
have  to  rough  it  a  little,  and  live  in  the  old  shanty 
till  the  house  is  up." 

"  And  where  are  we  to  be  all  that  time  ?  "  said 
Freda. 

"  You  will  have  to  stay  where  you  are,  I  guess," 
replied  Gilbert. 

"And  /guess  we  wont  submit  to  such  treatment; 
will  we,  Freddie  ?  " 

"  Decidedly  not,"  responded  Freddie.  "  I  want 
to  have  a  share  of  the  fun." 

"  Here's    a   pretty    state    of  affairs ! "    exclaimed 


GILBER  TS    JOURNEY.  329 

Gilbert ;  "  a  regular  woman's  rights  meeting  got  up 
on  the  first  opportunity  !  What  do  you  say  to  this, 
Rupert  ?  " 

"  I  second  everything  that  they  propose,"  said 
Rupert ;  "  and  beg  that  affairs  may  be  so  managed 
that  we  shall  not  be  deprived  of  their  society.  In 
such  a  climate  as  you  describe,  with  the  shade  of 
luxuriant  trees,  I  think  we  might  all  live  very  com- 
fortably under  canvas  until  the  house  is  built." 

"  Excellent !  "  said  Gilbert. 

"  Delightful !  "  murmured  Freda. 

"  Oh,  Jolly !  "  exclaimed  Freddie. 

"  Then  I  suppose  you  girls  will  be  glad  to  see 
me  back  again,"  said  Gilbert,  rather  maliciously; 
"  though  you  are  not  disposed  to  break  your  hearts 
over  my  departure." 

"  Oh,  uncle  !  "  exclaimed  Freda,  "  it  is  positively 
wicked  of  you  to  say  that.  How  can  you  expect 
me  to  appear  anything  but  cheerful,  and  light- 
hearted,  when  you  must  know  how  happy  I  am  in 
being  once  more  with  Rupert,  after  his  going  away 
and  saying  I  should  never  see  him  again !  Indeed 
I  am  very  sorry  that  you  should  have  to  leave  us  so 
soon,  and  on  my  business  too !  Can  you  forgive 
me  for  being  happy  ?  " 

"  I  can,  and  do,  my  child,"  he  replied,  tenderly, 
for  he  detected  a  quaver  in  her  voice,  which  con- 
firmed Freddie's  assertion  that  her  gayety  was  as- 
sumed for  Rupert's  sake.  "  Be  as  merry  as  you 
can,  and  take  care  that  Rupert  does  not  get  another 
attack  of  fever.  Your  hands  are  hot  and  dry  now, 


330  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

my  friend.  As  your  doctor,  I  prescribe  a  warm 
bath,  and  bed.  As  your  nurse,  I'll  go  and  prepare 
them  for  you.  And  you,  young  ladies,  get  you  off 
to  bed  likewise,  and  secure  your  beauty  sleep." 

He  hurried  Freda's  parting  from  her  lover,  under 
the  pretence  of  carrying  him  off  to  the  bath-room, 
and  the  two  girls  went  into  the  chamber  they  were 
to  occupy  in  common. 

The  murmur  of  voices  from  the  adjoining  room, 
which  was  that  allotted  to  the  use  of  Rupert  and 
his  friend,  warned  them  to  stifle  their  sobs,  and  to 
let  no  sound  of  grief  be  heard  through  the  thin  par- 
tition wall. 

But  their  pantomime  was  expressive;  and  poor 
Freda's  whispers  were  not  the  less  heart-rending  in 
their  misery,  because  they  were  so  low  that  Freddie 
could  scarcely  catch  their  meaning. 

They  were  no  sooner  alone  than  Freda  threw  her- 
self into  her  friend's  arms,  and  wept  convulsively, 
though  in  silence,  while  Freddie's  sympathetic  tears 
fell  fast  for  company. 

"  O  Freddie !  How  long  is  this  dreadful  struggle 
to  go  on  ?  If  Rupert  would  only  loathe  me,  as  I 
loathe  myself,  for  being  the  child  of  such  a  man,  then 
he  would  cease  to  love  me,  and  I  could  die.  But  I 
must  live  on  for  his  sake,  though  I  know  I  have  no 
right  to  live ;  for  all  that  man's  wickedness  must  be 
latent  in  my  nature,  and  will  show  itself  when  the 
occasion  calls  it  forth." 

"  Freda !  Hold  your  tongue,  or  talk  common 
sense !  There  is  no  wickedness  in  you  !  You  are 


GILBERTS    JOURNEY.  331 

an  angel !  A  dear,  suffering  angel,  cruelly  punished 
for  faults  she  never  could  so  much  as  imagine  could 
be  committed  by  others — far  less  commit  them  her- 
self." 

"  Oh,  the  shame  seems  more  than  I  can  bear!" 
moaned  Freda. 

"  Think  of  your  mother,  darling  !  You  resemble 
her — Rupert  said  so  ;  and  he  said  too  that  you  were 
more  beautiful,  and  had  a  superior  mind,  and  more 
firmness  of  character  than  she  had,  good  and  beauti- 
ful as  she  was." 

"  He  should  not  say  such  things,"  sobbed  Freda, 
a  little  comforted  nevertheless.  "  How  can  there 
be  any  good  in  me,  with  such  a  father?  " 

"  He  only  spoke  the  truth,"  continued  Freddie ; 
"  for  Gilbert  entirely  agreed  with  him,  and  uncles 
don't  flatter." 

"  If  I  were  the  only  sufferer,  I  could  bear  my 
cruel  lot  more  patiently,"  whispered  Freda.  "  I  had 
long  suspected  that  he  caused  my  mother's  death, 
but  until  to-day  I  never  realized  all  his  villainy,  nor 
thought  that  I  inherited  the  disgrace  of  it.  But 
when  Rupert  asked  me  to  be  his  wife,  I  remem- 
bered Mrs.  Templeman,  and  the  image  of  that  man 
seemed  to  rise  up  between  him  and  me,  and  the 
shadow  of  his  criminal  life  came  over  me,  like  a 
black  cloud." 

"When  the  first  bitterness  is  past,  the  sacrifice 
will  bring  its  own  reward,"  said  Freddie ;  "  you  will 
feel  more  and  more  that  you  have  done  right.  And 
Rupert,  when  he  is  quite  strong  again,  will  help  you 


332  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

to  be  cheerful,  instead  of  depending  altogether  upon 
your  exertions,  as  he  has  done  to-day." 

"  Poor  Rupert !  "  sighed  Freda.  "  When  I  think 
that  he  has  to  suffer  for  that  other's  crimes,  my 
heart  swells  with  rage  and  vindictiveness  ! " 

"  Then  try  not  to  think  of  it.  Think,  instead, 
how  delighted  you  would  have  been,  about  this  • 
time  last  night,  if  you  had  known  that  you  were 
within  a  few  miles  of  Rupert,  and  that  when  once 
re-united,  you  would  be  his  companion  for  the  rest 
of  your  lives." 

"And  my  dear  uncle  Gilbert  would  also  have 
been  delighted,"  said  Freda,  smiling,  "could  he 
have  known  that  he  had  two  Winifreds  under  his 
care,  and  that  the  one  he  saw  at  Chester  was  not  his 
niece." 

"  Do  you  suppose  he  was  under  that  mistake  ?  " 
said  Freddie,  looking  shy. 

"  How  else  can  you  account  for  his  straifge  con- 
duct throughout  the  journey?  If  we  had  not 
arrived  here  some  hours  earlier  than  he  arranged  it, 
and  caught  him  asleep  in  the  garden,  he  would 
have  been  off,  no  one  knows  where,  and  we  might 
not  have  been  able  to  find  him,  after  we  had  dis- 
covered his  mistake.  Oh,  there  is  still  much — 
very  much  to  be  thankful  for  in  this  world,  Freddie, 
darling !  I  have  found  a  dear  uncle,  and  my  life 
with  Rupert  will  be  happy,  as  soon  as  I  see  him 
looking  really  cheerful ;  and  you  and  Gilbert  will 
be  so  blest  that  some  of  the  sunshine  from  your  lot 
will  fall  upon  us,  and  crown  us  with  joy.  I  have 


GILBER  7"  S    JO  URNE  Y.  333 

been  selfishly  occupied  with  my  own  sorrows  all 
this  time — have  you  nothing  to  tell  of  your  happi- 
ness, Freddie  ?  " 

"Not  much,"  answered  Freddie,  blushing;  "he 
said  it  was  selfish  to  be  very  happy  when  one's 
friends  were  miserable ;  and  I  agreed  with  him,  of 
course ;  and  I  managed  to  tell  him  all  the  bad  about 
myself." 

" The  bad'     What  bad ? "  demanded  Freda. 

"  About  the  Circus  and  all  that,"  replied  Freddie. 

"  What  did  he  say  ?  "  asked  Freda,  anxiously. 

"  He  just  made  fun  of  it  altogether,  and  said  it 
had  done  me  no  harm;  and — and — he  asked  me 
to  grant  him  a  short  interview  to-morrow  before  he 
goes." 

"  Now  I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  sleep,"  said 
Freda,  "for  I  have  something  pleasant  to  think  of." 

When  their  heads  were  on  their  pillows,  Freddie 
kept  up*a  gentle  buzzing  on  the  same  topic  until  she 
fell  asleep,  and  it  was  not  long  before  Freda  followed 
her  example. 

All  were  astir  early  in  the  morning.  Rupert, 
much  benefited  'by  Gilbert's  treatment,  was  going  to 
accompany  him  to  the  city. 

The  horses  were  saddled  ;  the  jewels  were  placed 
in  a  gold-digger's  belt,  and  fastened  securely  round 
Gilbert's  waist ;  Freda  and  Rupert  were  talking,  on 
the  piazza,  when  Gilbert  took  Freddie's  hand,  and 
led  her  into  a  vacant  room. 

"Freddie,"  he  said,  "tell  me  frankly,  do  you 
know  why  I  kept  out  of  your  sight  on  the  journey?" 


334  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  I  think,"  she  stammered  out,  "  you  believed  me 
to  be  your  niece." 

"  Do  you  hate  and  scorn  me  for  thinking  so  ?  " 

"  No,  you  acted  honorably,"  she  replied,  with  a 
burst  of  enthusiasm,  "  that  is,  if — " 

"  That's  enough  !  Don't  spoil  it  with  an  if"  he 
exclaimed ;  then  caught  her  in  his  arms,  pressed  one 
fervent  kiss  upon  her  lips,  and  was  off  without  an- 
other word. 

When  Freddie  recovered  from  her  astonishment, 
and  joined  Freda  on  the  piazza,  the  two  horsemen 
were  at  some  distance  on  the  road. 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 
PANDORA'S  BOX. 

THREE  months  have  passed  away,  leaving  in  their 
train  all  the  glories  of  the  California!!  spring. 

A  partially  finished  house  stands  on  a  plateau 
among  the  foot-hills  of  the  Sierras,  and  beside  it  are 
two  spacious  tents. 

A  swing,  that  is  half  a  hammock,  hangs  from  the 
boughs  of  a  magnificent  red-wood  tree,  and  in  it 
lolls  Freddie,  toying  with  the  empty  jewel-case,  and 
watching,  almost  sadly,  the  figure  of  Gilbert  Brace- 
bridge,  as,  mounted  upon  Sultan,  he  rapidly  recedes 
along  the  road  to  San  Francisco. 

Watching  the  same  object,  but  concealed  by 
the  trees  and  bushes  from  Freddie's  sight,  stand 
Rupert  and  Freda.  He  has  recovered  strength  both 
of  mind  and  body,  and  is  now  consoling  and  sup- 
porting her,  as  she  leans,  weeping,  on  his  breast. 
It  is  the  first  time  that  she  has  given  way,  in  his 
presence,  to  any  violent  exhibition  of  grief  at  their 
sad  lot,  and  the  present  occasion  may  well  excuse  it. 

Gilbert  will  bring  back  with  him  a  marriage 
license  and  a  minister,  and  he  and  Freddie  will  be 
married  that  evening. 

335 


336  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

It  is  no  wonder  that  poor  Freda  feels,  with  double 
intensity,  the  bitterness  of  her  own  lot.  She  whis- 
pers, "  Don't  let  Freddie  know  how  mean  and  envi- 
ous I  am !  "  And  Rupert  wipes  away  her  tears  and 
tries  to  comfort  her. 

Freddie  herself  is  not  half  satisfied.  She  feels  as 
though  she  were  taking  an  unfair  advantage  of  her 
friends. 

"  Pandora's  box !  "  she  soliloquized.  "  I  wish  I 
could  find  any  hope  for  them  in  the  bottom  of  it. 
Nothing  but  crimson  velvet ; — not  even  the  color  of 
hope !  The  bottom  is  very  thick.  I  really  think 
there  must  be  something  hidden  there." 

The  false  bottom  in  her  own  trunk  had,  no  doubt, 
given  her  some  skill  in  such  matters,  for,  after 
manipulating  the  sides  and  ornaments  for  a  short 
time,  she  pressed  a  spring,  and  the  bottom  of  the 
casket  sprang  up. 

She  looked  eagerly  into  the  cavity  thus  revealed, 
expecting  to  find  some  costly  jewel,  but  she  saw 
nothing  but  a  letter,  addressed  to  Winifred  Trevan- 
ian.  Knowing  that  this  must  have  been  written 
and  placed  there  by  the  mother,  for  her  daughter  to 
read  after  she  was  dead,  Freddie  forbore  to  touch  it, 
but  carried  the  box  to  Freda,  told  her  briefly,  how 
she  had  discovered  it,  and  turned  to  go. 

"Stay,  Freddie,  dear,"  said  her  friend;  "this  can 
contain  no  secret  that  I  would  withhold  from  you." 

She  read  it  with  a  puzzled  and  frightened  air. 

Suddenly  she  burst  into  a  wild  fit  of  laughter, 
Jmd  pushing  the  letter  into  Rupert's  hand,  cried : 


PANDORAS    BOX.  337 

"  Read !  Read !  And  tell  me  what  it's  about !  It 
is  too  good  to  be  true  !  I  can't  believe  it !  " 

Rupert  encircled  her  with  his  arms,  and  she  leaned 
on  him,  laughing  and  crying  like  a  child. 

"  This  was  written  by  your  mother,  Freda,"  he 
said,  solemnly. 

"  I  know  it !  What  is  it  she  says  ?  I  cannot 
believe  it ! " 

Rupert  read  as  follows  : 

MY  BELOVED  CHILD  : — May  our  merciful  Father  in  His  own  good 
time,  reveal  to  you  the  hiding-place  in  which  I  shall  conceal  this 
paper,  and  the  two  certificates  which  will  prove  the  truth  of  what  I 
state.  Your  father  died  in  India  when  you  were  little  more  than 
three  years  old.  His  distant  cousin,  who  bore  the  same  name,  in- 
duced, or  I  may  say  compelled  me  to  marry  him  a  few  months  after- 
wards. I  was  not  to  blame  for  this  haste.  I  was  in  my  soul  faith- 
ful to  the  memory  of  my  beloved  husband ;  but  I  was  alone  among 
strangers,  in  a  strange  land,  surrounded  by  enemies,  and  in  terror 
for  the  safety  of  my  child,  I  was  in  Randolph  Trevanian's  power. 
He  was  a  wicked  man,  and  I  feared,  but  never  loved  him.  He 
exercised  a  power  over  me  which  I  could  not  resist.  He  made  me 
promise  never  to  tell  you  that  he  is  not  your  father.  I  did  not 
promise  never  to  write  it,  and  I  pray  to  God  that  He  will  lead  you 
to  the  discovery,  for  you  will  be  happy  in  knowing  that  your  real 
father  was  as  good  and  noble,  as  this  supposed  one  is  vile  and  dis- 
honorable. I  write  in  dread  of  discovery.  Your  father  collected 
these  jewels  for  you.  They  were  to  be  your  dowry.  Oh,  that  I 
may  be  able  to  preserve  them  for  you !  I  keep  them  hidden  in  a 
secret  place,  for  he  uses  every  artifice  to  obtain  possession  of  them. 
May  God  bless  and  protect  my  child,  is  the  prayer  of 
Her  unhappy  mother, 

ELLEN  TREVANIAN. 

"Thank  God  for  this  great  mercy !"  exclaimed 
Rupert.  "  Freddie !  How  can  we  thank  you — " 


338  WINIFRED'S     JEWELS. 

But  Freddie  was  gone.  There  lay  the  box,  how- 
ever, and  in  it  the  certificates,  which  proved  the  two 
marriages — one  at  Southampton,  between  Ellen 
Bracebridge  and  Randolph  Trevanian,  and  the 
other,  four  years  later,  in  India,  between  Ellen  Tre- 
vanian, widow,  and  Randolph  Ellerton  Trevanian. 

Freda  had  barely  comprehended  the  full  extent 
of  her  happiness,  when  a  succession  of  wild  outcries, 
accompanied  by  the  firing  of  guns,  drew  them  to 
the  space  in  front  of  the  house. 

"Are  we  attacked  by  Indian  savages?"  cried 
Freda. 

"  No,  no — those  are  not  Indian  voices,"  replied 
Rupert,  hurrying  on. 

"Oh!  (with  tremendous  crescendo),  Mas'r  Gilbert 
(diminuendo),"  was  uttered  in  the  stentorian  tones 
of  Sam  Watson. 

Bang — bang — bang — went  Gilbert's  Winchester 
rifle,  which  was  in  Freddie's  hands. 

"Oh!  Mas'r  Gilbert !"  with  the  usual  crescendo 
and  diminuendo  effects,  proceeded  from  the  scarce 
less  powerful  lungs  of  Lindy,  otherwise  Luanda — a 
sable  damsel  of  whom  Sam  had  become  enamoured 
on  his  journey,  and  whom  he  had  persuaded  to 
marry  him  after  a  few  days'  courtship. 

Bang  went  Sam's  old  gun.  Then  the  rifle  and 
the  yells  went  off  together,  and  Gilbert  looked 
round.  Shouts  and  firing  were  repeated.  Seeing 
that  something  was  amiss,  he  turned  and  re-ascended 
the  steep  road. 

Half  way  up  he  met  Freddie,  wild  with  excite- 


PANDORA'S    BOX.  339 

merit,  and  either  unable,  or  perversely  unwilling,  to 
utter  a  coherent  sentence  from  which  he  could 
divine  the  cause  of  the  tumult. 

"  No  harm  has  happened,  I  can  see  that  in  your 
face;  but,  in  Heaven's  name,  what  is  it,  Fred- 
die?" he  said,  leaping  from  his  horse,  as  he  met  her. 

"  '  Glory  !  Glory  !  Hallelujah  ! '  "  sang  Freddie,  as 
she  sprang  into  the  vacant  saddle.  '"  Could  anybody 
have  imagined  such  a  thing  !  '  We'll  go  marching 
on  ! '  It's  all  right  at  last !  And  I  found  it !  " 

"  Found  what,  you  provoking  monkey  ? "  said 
Gilbert,  trying  to  snatch  her  down.  But  Sultan  had 
caught  the  infection  of  her  high  spirits,  and  eluded 
his  grasp  by  bounding  forward,  and  carrying  his 
mistress  up  the  hill  at  a  canter. 

Gilbert  followed  with  all  speed,  but  only  arrived, 
breathless,  at  the  top,  to  be  half  smothered  by 
Freda's  embraces,  while  his  right  arm  ran  some  risk 
of  being  dislocated  by  Rupert's  energetic  hand- 
shakings. 

The  truth -at  length  dawned  upon  him,  and  then, 
for  the  first  time,  they  comprehended  how  'deeply 
he  had  sympathized  with  his  niece  and  friend  in 
their  past  trouble.  His  gravity  sobered  them  all, 
for  his  heart  was  too  full  for  loud  rejoicing. 

He  read  his  sister's  letter  with  deep  emotion,  and 
replaced  it  carefully  in  its  hidden  receptacle.  Then 
the  usual  bright  smile  came  back  to  his  face,  as, 
returning  the  casket  to  Freda,  he  said,  "You 
thought  you  had  sold  all  your  jewels,  Winifred; 
but  the  most  precious  one  was  left  behind." 


340  WINIFRED'S    JEWELS. 

"  I  hope,  Master  Gilbert,"  said  Sam,  who  was 
not  without  the  feelings  of  inquisitiveness  common 
to  humanity,  whether  black  or  white,  "  that  there 
was  some  very  good  news  in  that  letter." 

"  So  good,  old  friend,"  replied  Gilbert,  clapping 
him  on  the  back,  "  that  the  result  of  it  is,  we  shall 
have  two  weddings  to-morrow,  instead  of  one  to- 
day." 


THE   END. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A     000  071  296     8 


